myAIRDRIE sign in

Garbage material and how to sort

Garbage cart icon with garbage bag

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

Black garbage carts

Collection frequency: weekly. Learn about cart placement.
Accepted items: items that can’t be recycled or composted and are at the end of their useful life. Unsure where an item belongs? View the Cart smart tool: Where does it go?
Cart use:

All garbage must be bagged; no loose items. Place multiple small bags in the cart; do not line cart with a bag.
Some excess material can be reduced by making sure items are placed in the correct cart, for example, food scraps, yard waste, and pet waste belong in the green cart, while recyclable items go in the blue cart.
Sharp objects (e.g., broken ceramics or mirrors) must be in a sealed puncture-proof container.
The lid must close. Large and excess garbage can be brought to the Transfer Site for a fee.
If items are still usable, consider reuse through charities, thrift stores or online platforms.
Extra garbage and large items like construction material and broken furniture can be brought to the Transfer Site for a fee. You can also purchase extra bag tags so up to three tagged garbage bags can be placed out with your regular bag on collection day each week. Learn more about bag tags for excess waste.

What materials are garbage?

Items that can’t be recycled or composted should go in your black garbage cart or to the Transfer Site. Find common examples below.

Plastic materials

Materials	Location and sorting
Non-stretchy plastics like chip bags, pet food bags and candy wrappers Straws, cutlery Hard and soft plastics without #1-7 on it Plastic toys like dolls or blow up pools Photo and sticker paper	Black garbage cart Transfer Site

Household items and appliances

Materials	Location and sorting
Ceramics like plates, cups and decorative items Broken glass, ceramics, mirror (place in a puncture proof container like a cardboard box) 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 like glue, writing utensils, paper with decorations such as feathers and sequins LED light bulbs Nails and screws (place in a puncture proof container like a cardboard box) Mattresses and box springs Furniture like couches and wooden bed frames Car seats Exercise equipment Toilets large appliances like fridges, freezers, ovens and water coolers (additional charges for freon removal)	Black garbage cart Batteries, hazardous waste, packaging foam, light bulbs, and chemicals cannot go in your blue cart but can be brought to the Recycle Depot. Transfer Site Extra garbage and large items like construction material and broken furniture can be brought for a fee.

Materials

Location and sorting

Ceramics like plates, cups and decorative items
Broken glass, ceramics, mirror (place in a puncture proof container like a cardboard box)
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 like glue, writing utensils, paper with decorations such as feathers and sequins
LED light bulbs
Nails and screws (place in a puncture proof container like a cardboard box)
Mattresses and box springs
Furniture like couches and wooden bed frames
Car seats
Exercise equipment
Toilets
large appliances like fridges, freezers, ovens and water coolers (additional charges for freon removal)

Black garbage cart

Batteries, hazardous waste, packaging foam, light bulbs, and chemicals cannot go in your blue cart but can be brought to the Recycle Depot.

Transfer Site

Extra garbage and large items like construction material and broken furniture can be brought for a fee.

Packaging

Materials	Location and sorting
Food related foam and packaging like meat trays, foam egg cartons, cereal and cookie bags Packaging peanuts Floral wrap	Black garbage cart Transfer Site

Personal care products

Materials	Location and sorting
Diapers and wipes (including flushable and compostable options) Feminine hygiene products like pads, tampons and liners Masks, disposable gloves Cosmetics Bottles filled with liquids (e.g. shampoo, bubble bath bottle half full) Soap bar, toothpaste tubes IV bags, tubing, catheters (please double bag these before placing in your cart or taking to the Transfer Site) Cigarette butts	Black garbage cart Transfer Site

Construction, metal and tires

Materials	Location and sorting
Wood (treated and untreated) Drywall Shingles Nails and screws Pipes Metal bed frames Cookware (pots, pans, baking sheets) Metal household items (hangers, door knobs) Shelving units Car tires with the rims removed	Transfer Site

Yard waste (excess, sod, oversized)

Materials	Location and sorting
Excess leaves, branches and grass (no food, sod or dirt) Large branches and stumps Christmas trees The City hosts an annual tree chipping event after Christmas at the Recycle Depot. Learn more	Transfer Site

Holiday materials

Some holiday-specific materials can be recycled through our seasonal programs. Visit our Holiday waste and recycling tips to find out what to do with items like Christmas lights, trees for chipping, and pumpkins after Halloween.

BluPlanet Curbside Collection Trucks

Our curbside collection trucks allow us to monitor progress via GPS and cameras.

The information collected by the BluPlanet collection trucks is under the authority of Section 4(c) of the Protection of Privacy Act (the “Act”) and will be used for the purposes of administering the City of Airdrie's Waste and Recycling programs and collection quality assurance. It will be treated in accordance with the privacy protection provisions of the Act. Questions concerning collection of this information can be directed to general.inquiries@airdrie.ca.