Residential garbage collection update

On April 3, 2017 we changed from units of waste to bags as per the revised Waste Management Bylaw. One bag no larger than 90cm x 127cm and no heavier than 25kg can be placed at the curb for collection. This one bag can still be placed in a garbage can at the curb. Sharp items (glass, nails, etc.) must be clearly labelled in a puncture proof container and placed beside your garbage.

One bag limit update
From April - June, a two-month grace period was set in order to help residents adapt to the new blue cart program.

In June, the Waste & Recycling department asked the garbage pick-up contractor to begin enforcing the one-bag limit (and single bag requirement) by using “oops” tags to let residents know when they were over the one-bag limit and had not used the “extra bag” tags available for purchase.

Waste & Recycling began to receive feedback that the one-bag limit was causing some confusion. Some residents use a garbage can at the curb and put several smaller bags in the can, thinking that they are in compliance with the bylaw.

In response to feedback received from residents regarding the one-bag limit for residential household waste, the City of Airdrie’s garbage contractor has been asked to use discretion in assessing adherence to the one-bag limit.

The contractor will do a quick visual assessment of the waste left at the curb. If the volume generally meets the size and weight of what is in the bylaw and it is secured in a bag or several bags, it will be collected. Please note that loose and non-bagged material in a garbage can will not be accepted.

Waste & Recycling staff will continue to monitor community response to the rollout of all elements of the blue cart program and the one-bag limit requirement.

Additional bags?

An excess waste tag must be attached. No more than three tagged bags can accompany your regular one per week (maximum of four units of waste total).

Tags can be purchased for $3 each at:

• Airdrie City Hall
• Airdrie Public Library
• Airdrie Co-op
• Genesis Place
• Any Airdrie Shoppers Drug Mart location

Hot topics

For some helpful info on summer recycling and organics collection check out our Summer Tips !

Eco Youth Award Project Updates

The City of Airdrie would like to congratulate the following groups who won the 2016 Eco Youth Award:

• Ralph McCall School - Andrew Doyle's grade four class - Connections
• A.E. Bowers Elementary - Veronica Doyle's Grade four class
• Ecole Edwards Elementary - Alice Mackay and Cristy Leonard-Glaspey's Grade one & two classes
• Heloise Lorimer School - Jill Quirk's WE ECO Crew

These groups did a fantastic job on their projects and we are so excited to showcase their efforts with these follow up reports, presentations, and videos they provided to us to show how they used the funds, check them out here: Eco Youth Awards.

The City would also like to thank Fortis Alberta for their generous donation which enabled these students to take on projects they may have otherwise not been able to do.

Organics changing to weekly collection May 1

Starting the week of May 1, organics collection will be changing from bi-weekly to weekly collection. Be sure to not forget your collection day by signing up through MyAirdrie to get a free text or email reminder for your waste, recycling and organics collection days.

Summer programs begin

Bike sales

Each year bicycles are recovered from parks and along pathways. The City of Airdrie holds bikes for a minimum of 30 days to give owners an opportunity to reclaim their bikes. If unclaimed, the bikes are brought to the Eastside Recycle Depot and offered for sale along with other donated bikes, to Airdrie residents for a nominal fee.

If you are looking for a lost or stolen bike, contact Waste & Recycling Services to see if the City has recovered your bike.

The City does not inspect the bikes recovered nor have any knowledge of, or warrants the condition the bikes are in. Therefore, the bikes are sold “as is” with no liability on the part of the City. Furthermore, the purchaser, by paying the nominal fee, waives any rights or claims against the City and becomes solely responsible for the item purchased.

Grass and leaves bin now open

Grass clippings and leaves are accepted at the Eastside Recycle Depot. Residents may choose to bring grass and leaves that could not fit in their green cart or wait until their next scheduled collection.

NO sod or food waste will be accepted.

Learn more about all five of our programs

Check out our Reference Sheet for a list of what is and isn't accepted in our curbside collection programs as well as at the Eastside Recycle Depot and Transfer Site.

Use of recycling facilities

City of Airdrie recycling facilities including the Airdrie Transfer Site are subsidized* through an environmental fee paid by Airdrie and Rocky View County residents (additional fees apply at the Transfer Site.)

*Business use of our facilities is not permitted as businesses do not contribute to this funding.

What do we do?
Waste & Recycling Services provides residents with options for managing their eesidential/household waste through services and education, considering environmental, social and economic impacts.

The department is responsible for:

• residential garbage collection
• residential organics collection
• operation of the Eastside and Westside Recycle Depots
• operation of the waste transfer site
• coordination of Multi-family Recycling Education Program
• education specific to waste diversion and recycling
• various other events and initiatives
• Eco Edge Awards, Eco Art Awards, Eco Youth Awards

Extra information

Clear bags voted out

On March 20, 2017 City Council voted to remove clear bags from the Waste Management Bylaw.

Starting the week of April 3, you will be allowed one bag of garbage per week (can be any colour of bag). 

Bag tags for excess garbage bags can be purchased for $3/tag. A total of four bags can be placed out for collection each week (one bag included in your fees plus up to three tagged bags).

Care and Compassion provision

Council also approved care and compassion provisions that include:

Diaper exemption
Residents who apply for the diaper exemption will receive excess waste tags for one extra garbage bag each week for six months. The household must have two or more children under the age of four and this exemption must be re-applied for every six months. The application form is available here.

Medical exemption
Residents who apply for the medical exemption will receive excess waste tags for one extra garbage bag each week for six months. This exemption must be re-applied for every six months. The application form is available here.

Waste audits

Council directed staff to determine levels of contamination by looking for organics and recyclable materials in residential garbage bags over the next year. The results of the waste audits will be presented to Council in 2018.

Reduced fees

Due to successful contract negotiations, the estimated costs for waste management programs came in lower than estimated. The increase from resident’s current utility bill will be $3.92 where the estimated cost was $6.44. This takes into account the savings from the closure of Westside Recycle Depot, the reduction of one bag per of garbage per week, and the decrease in staffing at the Eastside Recycle Depot. It also takes into account the added cost of curbside recycling collection and the reduced commodity revenue from the Eastside Recycle Depot.

View the revised waste management bylaw here