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The way we sort, set out and collect waste has changed. All single-unit and some multi-unit homes have been provided with a garbage cart, a food scraps cart and a food scraps pail. Cart collection has begun in all areas of the city.
Collected weekly from spring to fall, and every 2 weeks in the winter, using a cart provided by the City.
If you have spare room in your food scraps cart, you can top it up with yard waste as long as the lid can be fully closed.
Learn more about Food scraps
All solid food waste is accepted in the food scraps cart, which is collected weekly from spring to fall, and every two weeks in the winter.
This includes:
Liners are not required in your food scraps pail. While the most environmentally friendly choice is to not use a liner, some people find it helps them manage their food scraps more easily. If you choose to use a liner, paper is more environmentally friendly than plastic. Small pieces of paper are composted, while large amounts of paper are removed as contamination.
Plastic bags or compostable liners can be used, but are sorted out at our processing facility as garbage. Compostable plastics, including BPI/BNQ-certified bags, do not break down in our composting process. They need higher temperatures and longer processing times than food scraps.
Yard waste and grass clippings can be added to the food scraps cart if you have extra space.
Material from the food scraps cart will be processed at the Anaerobic Digestion Facility and through contracted partners in the Edmonton region.
Collected twice in spring and twice in fall in clear or double-ply paper bags
You can also top up your food scraps cart with yard waste or take it to an Eco Station for free.
Yard waste includes leaves, twigs, branches, fallen fruit, dead plants, grass and other plant material from your yard or garden.
Yard waste can be managed in multiple ways:
Top up your food scraps cart
Set yard waste out for seasonal collection
Bring yard waste to an Eco Station
Go bagless!
Collected in blue bags all year round on a weekly basis.
There are no changes to recycling collection.
Paper, newspaper, cardboard, tin cans, glass jars and bottles, plastic containers and bags are all acceptable items for any of our recycling programs, provided they are clean, loose and dry.
Learn about what you can Recycle
Collected every 2 weeks year-round, using a cart provided by the City.
Once you get the hang of sorting out your food scraps, yard waste and recycling, you’ll find that you have less garbage.
Learn more about garbage collection
Any materials that don't require special disposal at an Eco Station and don’t belong in your food scraps cart, blue bag or yard waste should go into your garbage cart.
Examples include non-recyclable packaging like coffee cups, plastic cutlery, chip bags, styrofoam, worn-out clothing, and diapers.
To learn more about reducing the amount of garbage you produce, visit edmonton.ca/wastereduction.
You can also search your collection day and set up a collection reminder.
Use the tool online or download it from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Call 311, use the WasteWise App, or fill out our online missed collection form. Please wait until the morning following your collection day to make your report, as our collection teams may work until 10pm.
Before you make your report, double check the following:
The above scenarios are not considered a missed collection. Keep your garbage until your next collection day or take it to an Eco Station. Drop off is free for up to 2 bags of garbage, as long as it’s in clear bags with no recycling, food scraps or yard waste mixed in.
You can request repairs for damaged carts and report lost or stolen carts via our online form, or by calling 311.
If you find a cart that does not belong to you or your neighbours, please call 311 to report it.
Starting November 2021, the City of Edmonton will implement new waste collection protocols which include cameras and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers on collection trucks to streamline operations and help improve customer service.
The RFID readers will scan the carts while tipping them in the truck to keep track of the scheduled collection services. The cameras will record locations where carts are not set out for collection or where the set-out doesn’t comply with The use of this type of technology is a growing trend in the industry.
If you have questions about the collection of private information with the new cameras and RFID readers, call 780-496-5698.
FOIP statement
Personal information is collected for the purpose of providing better customer service and will be used to respond to missed/delayed collection complaints. Collection is authorized by Section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. F-25 (FOIP) and is protected in accordance with the Act. If you have questions about the collection, you may contact the Waste Services Customer Support Team, [wastesupport@edmonton.ca, 780-496-5698, Kennedale Administration Building, 12802 58 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T5A 4L3].
There are some simple tips to ensure food waste does not become frozen to the inside of the food scraps cart. They are:
If material gets stuck inside the cart, use a broom or shovel handle to carefully loosen it.
Please do not paint or add drawings, decorations and decals to your carts beyond an address label as the carts provided are property of the City of Edmonton, assigned to each address and stay with the address even if a resident moves.
Carts with decorative modifications or customizations may not be collected if staff cannot verify whether your cart has been issued by the City or if the original colour of the cart (green for food scraps, black for garbage) is not visible.
The City also needs to scan the barcode in front of the cart when performing maintenance service on carts. Therefore, identifiers such as the City logo, cart colour, set-out instructions, barcode, and cart serial numbers must not be covered.
No, residents cannot opt out of curbside cart collection. Every household’s participation is important to help Edmonton reach the 90% diversion goal. The City cannot do what a million Edmontonians can at home by sorting their waste.
If you have trouble with cart-based collection due to mobility issues, you may be eligible for Assisted Waste Collection.
Small households and those who embrace waste sorting and waste reduction may find that a small cart (120L, same as the food scraps cart size) better meets their needs. If you’d prefer a small cart you can submit a request online at edmonton.ca/waste to exchange your large garbage cart for a small one. The first garbage cart size exchange will be free of charge for each waste account holder. Future requests will come with a one-time administration fee of $18.50.
If EPCOR is planning construction on your collection route, you will receive a letter detailing where to place your cart to ensure it gets collected.
If you receive back alley collection, your alternative location will likely be on your front street. If you receive front street collection, your alternative location may vary depending on the type of construction and available space. Please follow the instructions in your letter to ensure your cart is collected.
In instances where no alternative location is available, the City will provide bins for residents to put their waste.
If you have concerns about your waste being collected, please call 311 or the waste customer support centre to arrange where your cart will be picked up.