Blue cart recycling
Blue cart recycling
The City of Calgary provides blue carts and community recycling depots for residential recycling. The Blue Cart program is provided to single-family homes.
Recyclables include paper and packaging products like glass food jars, food cans, flyers, plastic containers and cardboard.
The program works together with the Black and Green Cart programs to help Calgarians manage their waste responsibly.
Blue cart tips
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Blue carts are collected once a week (year-around).
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Recyclables must be empty, clean and dry.
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All recyclables must fit inside the blue cart for pickup.
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Set out blue cart by 7 a.m. on your collection day.
Right bin for the win!
Household items don’t belong in the blue bin even if they’re metal or marked recyclable.
Common mix-ups
Metal pans, hoses, and cords can jam equipment and shut down sorting.
Common mess-ups
Containers with food or liquid.
Empty, clean plastic, glass, and metal containers.
Toys, vapes, and small gadgets (often contain batteries)
Take these items to a City Eco Centre to prevent fires.
Find your recycling pickup schedule
Use the scheduling tool to find your blue, green and black cart collection days, sign up to get free pickup day reminders or print a physical calendar.
Find your pickup day
- Type your address in the search box.
- For holiday changes, see the holiday schedule.
Sign up for free reminders
- Type your address in the search box
- Select Get a reminder
- Choose preferred notice type (email, phone etc.)
- Add contact details and preferred day and time for your weekly reminders
Print a calendar
- Type your address in the search box
- Select Get a calendar
- You can print a calendar or add an online calendar (Google, iCal, Outlook)
Download the Calgary Garbage Day app
- Get weekly notifications directly on your smartphone.
Cart customer service
For cart customer service including:
- Reporting missed pickup
- Getting, fixing or replacing your carts
- Requesting additional carts
- Cart placement
- Parking on pickup day
Don't know where to put an item?
What Goes Where
Use our online search tool to look up recycling, compost, and safe disposal options for hundreds of items.
Look up items for disposalBlue cart information
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See which items to put into your recycling.
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See which items do not belong in your recycling.
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Get your recycling and blue bin ready for pickup.
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For oversized and extra recycling that doesn’t fit your blue bin.
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Learn how Calgary’s recyclables actually get recycled.
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Learn how the recycling facility sorts your recyclables.
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Learn how your old recyclables get turned into new products.
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Manufacturers are now responsible for the packaging they create and managing recycling in Alberta.