History of Waste Management in Edmonton
In just over twenty years Edmonton has travelled from a relatively simple waste management system to one of the most sophisticated in the world.
Learn about Edmonton's past and current leading edge waste practices.
Waste Management Milestones
| Year | Milestone | |
|
1986 | Small pilot program tests the feasibility of curbside blue box recycling. |
![]() |
1987 | First annual Toxic Round-Up held to collect household hazardous wastes. |
![]() |
1988 | Blue Box curbside recycling begins. By the end of the year the service is offered city-wide. |
![]() |
1990 | Christmas tree recycling begins. |
![]() |
1991 | First community recycling depot opens. Today there are 20. |
![]() |
1992 | Collection of landfill gas begins at Clover Bar Landfill as a fuel source for electricity. |
![]() |
1995 | First Eco Station for household hazardous waste opens. A second opens in 1999 and a third in 2009. |
![]() |
1999 | Blue Bag curbside recycling program replaces the blue box program. |
![]() |
1999 | Materials Recovery Facility opens to sort recyclables. |
![]() |
2000 | Edmonton Composting Facility opens to compost residential waste. |
![]() |
2002 | Blue Bin recycling program initiated for townhouses, condos and apartments. |
![]() |
2006 | Big Bin Events begin. This service allows for the free disposal of large waste items. |
![]() |
2007 | First permanent Reuse Centre opens. |
![]() |
2007 | GEEP Electronics and Electrical Recycling Facility opens to recycle e-waste. |
![]() |
2008 | Construction & demolition waste recycling begins at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. |
![]() |
2009 | Assisted Waste Collection service begins. |
![]() |
2009 | Ambleside Eco Station opens. |
![]() |
2009 | Integrated Processing & Transfer Facility begins operation at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. |
![]() |
2010 | Construction begins on Greys Paper & Glass Recycling facility at Edmonton Waste Management Centre. |
![]() |
2010 | Commercial Waste Management Services offered to businesses to increase recycling rates in the non-residential sector. |
![]() |
2010 | Ground is broken for the Waste-to-Biofuels facility. Once fully operational in 2014 it will enable Edmonton to divert 90% of its residential waste from landfill. |






















Transforming Edmonton
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
RSS