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Where does it go?

Spring clean-up tips

Doing some spring cleaning? Remember these waste disposal tips:

Yard waste

Don’t overload your green cart — the lid must close for collection. Contractors won’t pick up extra material beside your cart.
Take grass, leaves and branches to the Transfer Site
Take sod, soil and sod fill to the City of Calgary landfill

Stinky green cart?

Try these fixes:

Sprinkle baking soda inside.
Rinse it out and pour the water on your lawn.
Line with compostable bags, paper or cardboard to prevent food from sticking.

Garbage reminders:

We always want to give items a second life and many of us feel guilty about throwing things away. However, some items cause more harm if they end up in the blue cart when they're not recyclable (wishcycling), can't be donated and must be put in the garbage. The following items belong in the garbage:

Garden hoses
Brooms and mops
Ceramic pots
Outdoor toys (e.g., trampolines, soccer balls)

Break down large toys with a recycling symbol and bring them to the Recycle Depot.

Clothing donations:

Drop off clothing in any condition at the Recycle Depot.

Household Hazardous Waste:

Dispose of hazardous waste safely at the Recycle Depot:

Paint and paint cans
Household chemicals (securely contained and labelled)
Batteries
Used engine oil (max 20L), used oil containers & filters
Antifreeze & propane tanks

Transport safely:

Keep items sealed in original containers (20L max).
Look for these symbols: flame, skull, corrosive, explosive.

What goes in the blue recycling cart?

All items must be placed LOOSE in your recycling bin except for:

stretchy plastic bags - bundle into one stretchy bag for recycling
shredded paper - put into a securely tied clear bag before placing it in blue cart

EMPTY, CLEAN and DRY items before placing in the blue cart.

Paper	Cardboard	Plastic containers	plastic bags and film	metal containers	food glass
newspaper, magazines, flyers envelopes soft cover books, notebooks (remove coil) shredded paper (inside a transparent plastic bag) Tetra Pak (soup, juice boxes) paper coffee cups, fast food cups REMOVE LID AND STRAW	cardboard boxes (clean, flattened, no plastic, metal or wood lining) boxboard (tissue boxes, cereal boxes )	hard plastic containers with the symbol #1-5,7 dairy containers (yogurt, margarine) refundable beverage containers (milk jugs, drink bottles) produce clamshell containers (berries, lettuce) personal care product containers (shampoo, laundry detergent) NO POLYSTYRENE FOAM (#6) PLASTICS MUST BE LARGER THAN THE SIZE OF YOUR PALM	stretchy plastic bags (grocery bags, bread bags, sandwich or snack bag) stretchy plastic film (pop case overwrap, toilet paper / paper towel case overwrap, clean food storage wrap)	food cans (soup, tuna) pet food cans aluminum foil (rinse and crumple into a ball) aluminum foil pie plates and cooking trays (rinse well) jar lids (salsa jar lid, separate from jar) refundable beverage containers (pop cans) JAR LIDS MUST BE LARGER THAN THE SIZE OF YOUR PALM	glass food containers (jam, pasta sauce) mason jars refundable beverage containers (soda, beer, wine) REMOVE CAPS AND LIDS

Paper

Cardboard

Plastic containers

plastic bags and film

metal containers

food glass

newspaper, magazines, flyers
envelopes
soft cover books, notebooks (remove coil)
shredded paper (inside a transparent plastic bag)
Tetra Pak (soup, juice boxes)
paper coffee cups, fast food cups

REMOVE LID AND STRAW

cardboard boxes (clean, flattened, no plastic, metal or wood lining)
boxboard (tissue boxes, cereal boxes )

hard plastic containers with the symbol #1-5,7
dairy containers (yogurt, margarine)
refundable beverage containers (milk jugs, drink bottles)
produce clamshell containers (berries, lettuce)
personal care product containers (shampoo, laundry detergent)

NO POLYSTYRENE FOAM (#6)

PLASTICS MUST BE LARGER THAN THE SIZE OF YOUR PALM

stretchy plastic bags (grocery bags, bread bags, sandwich or snack bag)
stretchy plastic film (pop case overwrap, toilet paper / paper towel case overwrap, clean food storage wrap)

food cans (soup, tuna)
pet food cans
aluminum foil (rinse and crumple into a ball)
aluminum foil pie plates and cooking trays (rinse well)
jar lids (salsa jar lid, separate from jar)
refundable beverage containers (pop cans)

JAR LIDS MUST BE LARGER THAN THE SIZE OF YOUR PALM

glass food containers (jam, pasta sauce)
mason jars
refundable beverage containers (soda, beer, wine)

REMOVE CAPS AND LIDS

What goes in the green organics cart?

Organic material that can break down in the City's eight week composting process.

Plastic, glass, construction material, wood and metal is NOT ALLOWED.

food	paper	yard waste	pet waste	other
leftovers (meat, fish, dairy, produce, breads) bones, shells, seeds, pits, peels sauces, jams, dressing cooking oils and fats (let hot oil & fat cool, absorb with paper material first)	greasy pizza boxes napkins, paper towels, tissue parchment paper French fry boxes fast food paper wrapping (paper hamburger wrapper, paper straw) greasy kraft paper bags paper muffin liners	branches (less than 1.5cm in diameter and no longer than 1M) leaves grass flowers sod (only fill the bin half full due to weight) hay, straw	pet waste/feces, kitty litter bedding made of organic materials pet fur, hair, feathers pet food, treats	coffee filters and grounds, tea bags Popsicle sticks wood toothpicks wooden skewers, stir sticks and chopsticks

Look for these symbols when purchasing certified compostable bags:
image of certified compostable bag symbols

What goes in the garbage?

Proper use of the green organics and blue recycling carts, and the Recycle Depot will help reduce the amount of garbage sent to landfill.

Items made from two different materials (multi-material) that cannot be separated are garbage.

Plastics	Household Items	packaging	Personal CARE products	sharp items
non-stretchy plastics (chip bags, pet food bags, candy wrappers) straws, cutlery hard and soft plastics without #1-7 on it plastic toys (dolls, blow up pools) LED light bulbs photo and sticker paper	ceramics (plates, cups, decorative items) garden hoses dryer sheets CDs, DVDs, VHS, tapes Picture frames, wall art canvas, tarps, umbrellas decorations (non-electronic, holiday ribbons, tinsel, cellophane) arts and crafts (glue, writing utensils, paper with decorations such as feathers and sequins)	food related foam (meat trays, egg cartons) processed food packaging (cereal bags, cookie bags) packaging peanuts floral wrap	diapers feminine hygiene products (pads, tampons, liners) wipes (including flushable and compostable options) masks, disposable gloves cosmetics bottles filled with liquids (e.g. shampoo, bubble bath bottle half full) soap bar, toothpaste tubes IV bags, tubing, catheters (double bag) cigarette butts	broken glass, ceramics, mirror nails and screws PUT IN A PUNCTURE PROOF CONTAINER (e.g. cardboard box), LABEL and PLACE BESIDE YOUR GARBAGE

Plastics

Household Items

packaging

Personal CARE products

sharp items

non-stretchy plastics (chip bags, pet food bags, candy wrappers)
straws, cutlery
hard and soft plastics without #1-7 on it
plastic toys (dolls, blow up pools)
LED light bulbs
photo and sticker paper

ceramics (plates, cups, decorative items)
garden hoses
dryer sheets
CDs, DVDs, VHS, tapes
Picture frames, wall art
canvas, tarps, umbrellas
decorations (non-electronic, holiday ribbons, tinsel, cellophane)
arts and crafts (glue, writing utensils, paper with decorations such as feathers and sequins)

food related foam (meat trays, egg cartons)
processed food packaging (cereal bags, cookie bags)
packaging peanuts
floral wrap

diapers
feminine hygiene products (pads, tampons, liners)
wipes (including flushable and compostable options)
masks, disposable gloves
cosmetics
bottles filled with liquids (e.g. shampoo, bubble bath bottle half full)
soap bar, toothpaste tubes
IV bags, tubing, catheters (double bag)
cigarette butts

broken glass, ceramics, mirror
nails and screws

PUT IN A PUNCTURE PROOF CONTAINER (e.g. cardboard box), LABEL and PLACE BESIDE YOUR GARBAGE

What goes to the Recycle Depot?

Excess recycling and oversize cardboard that won't fit in your blue cart, hazardous and special products and specialized programs.

Hazardous liquids must be securely contained in a labelled container

Electronics	Hazardous and special products	oil	extra recycling	specialized programs	Styrofoam ™
small appliances (microwave, coffee maker, blender) cellphones, tablets, cord phones printers and scanners power and yard tools gaming systems, toys televisions, computers and accessories (speakers, remotes, cables) cords, cables, USB's light strands and plug-in/battery operated decorations lamps, fans smoke and carbon monoxide detectors For a complete list of electronics accepted visit ARMAPILOT.	batteries (alkaline, lithium, rechargeable, car) paint and paint cans aerosols (whip cream, hairspray, spray paint) household chemicals (cleaners, bleach) light bulbs (CFL, halogen, incandescent) propane tanks fire extinguishers	cooking oil motor oil (max 20 Litres, no drums/ barrels) antifreeze oil filters oil jugs	paper cardboard stretchy bags and film (grocery bags, bread bags) metal food containers (soup cans, cat food) glass food containers (mason jars, pasta sauce jars) #2 plastic containers (laundry soap, protein powder) #1-5 and #7 plastic containers (dairy tubs, clamshells)	clothing/shoe donations (new and used condition) bicycle tires bicycle donation & sales (Spring and Summer) pumpkin recycling (week after Halloween) Christmas tree drop off for chipping (Dec. 28 - end of Jan.) book barn (take some, leave some) NO MAGAZINES, TEXTBOOKS, ENCYCLOPEDIAS, CD/DVDs	packaging polystyrene foam CLEAN AND TAPE FREE NO FOOD STYROFOAM ™

Electronics

Hazardous and special products

oil

extra recycling

specialized programs

Styrofoam ™

small appliances (microwave, coffee maker, blender)
cellphones, tablets, cord phones
printers and scanners
power and yard tools
gaming systems, toys
televisions, computers and accessories (speakers, remotes, cables)
cords, cables, USB's
light strands and plug-in/battery operated decorations
lamps, fans
smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

For a complete list of electronics accepted visit ARMAPILOT.

batteries (alkaline, lithium, rechargeable, car)
paint and paint cans
aerosols (whip cream, hairspray, spray paint)
household chemicals (cleaners, bleach)
light bulbs (CFL, halogen, incandescent)
propane tanks
fire extinguishers

cooking oil
motor oil (max 20 Litres, no drums/ barrels)
antifreeze
oil filters
oil jugs

paper
cardboard
stretchy bags and film (grocery bags, bread bags)
metal food containers (soup cans, cat food)
glass food containers (mason jars, pasta sauce jars)
#2 plastic containers (laundry soap, protein powder)
#1-5 and #7 plastic containers (dairy tubs, clamshells)

clothing/shoe donations (new and used condition)
bicycle tires
bicycle donation & sales (Spring and Summer)
pumpkin recycling (week after Halloween)
Christmas tree drop off for chipping (Dec. 28 - end of Jan.)
book barn (take some, leave some)

NO MAGAZINES, TEXTBOOKS, ENCYCLOPEDIAS, CD/DVDs

packaging polystyrene foam

CLEAN AND TAPE FREE

NO FOOD STYROFOAM ™

What goes to the Transfer Site?

The Transfer Site is a collection point for residential waste and construction material. Material is taken to landfill and recycling sites in the Calgary area.

Please visit the Transfer Site page for rates.

Large Items	other	Scrap metal	excess yard waste	construction material
mattress, box spring furniture (couches, wood bed frames) car seats exercise equipment gas powered tools (lawn mowers with gas removed) toilets large appliances (fridges, freezers, ovens, water coolers) ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR FREON REMOVAL	car tires extra garbage bags kiddie pools, large toys	pipes metal bed frames cookware (pots, pans, baking sheets) metal household items (hangers, door knobs) shelving units	leaves, branches, grass large stumps Christmas trees NO FOOD, DIRT OR SOD	wood (treated and untreated) drywall shingles

Printable resources

The City has created some print-at-home resources to help you sort your recycling, organics and garbage. Print copies also available at the Recycle Depot and City Hall.

You might also be looking for...

Waste and Recycling Guide