For Residents

History of Waste Management in Edmonton

In just over 20 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.
	2011	Advanced Energy Research Facility opens. This facility will be home to leading research of alternative fuels technology.
	2012	A new recycling facility for mixed construction and demolition (C&D) waste begins operation at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre.