Excess Waste Program

Main page content begins here

Even with diligent sorting, you may find that you occasionally or regularly have excess waste that cannot be picked up with your regular collection.

The best way to deal with excess garbage is to ensure that you are reducing waste and sorting your waste materials correctly.
Studies conducted in summer and fall 2019 and winter 2020 indicated that 44%-64% of garbage collected from Edmonton single-unit homes was compostable organics (food scraps or yard waste) and over 15% was recycling. By sorting these materials into the correct waste stream, you should find you have much more space in your garbage cart.

Sorting your waste becomes much easier with a little practice and guidance. It may take a few weeks to develop new habits, but help is available:

Look up individual items in WasteWise to find disposal instructions. Use it online or download it from Google Play or the Apple App Store
Consult your What Goes Where poster

Occasional Excess Garbage

Residents who occasionally have excess garbage can drop off up to 2 bags of excess garbage at an Eco Station free of charge.

Clear bags must be used, and they must not contain recycling, food scraps, or yard waste
If not, a $9 excess waste fee will be charged
To protect your privacy, put garbage you don’t want others to see in your black carts

Oversized Waste

Large or bulky items should be dropped off at an Eco Station. Fees may apply.

You can also take large items to a seasonal Big Bin Event for free.

If your items are in good condition, consider reuse! Furniture, appliances and other household items can be donated, sold or given to a friend.

Excess Garbage Cart Program

Very large households and those generating non-hazardous home healthcare waste may find that even with diligent sorting they still regularly produce excess waste.

Homes that meet at least 1 of the following criteria are eligible to apply to exchange their garbage cart with an excess (360L) garbage cart:

Residences with 7 or more people in the same household
Residents generating non-hazardous home health care waste, such as dressings, catheters, dialysis tubing and filters or adult diapers. Baby diapers are not considered as home healthware waste

The excess garbage cart holds approximately 6-9 regular black garbage bags.

Cost

The monthly utility rate for the excess garbage cart is $58.75, which is $10 more per month than the large (240L) garbage cart.

The approved 2023 waste utility rate is $58.75 per month.

Dimensions

Height: 111 centimetres (43.5 inches)
Width: 74 centimetres (29 inches)
Depth: 85 centimetres (33.5 inches)
Volume: 360L

To Apply

Submit your application online any time after you receive your first set of carts. We encourage all residents to try out the default large garbage cart for a few weeks before requesting an excess garbage cart.

Applications must be submitted by the EPCOR account holder responsible for paying the waste rate(s) associated with the property.

Submit your application

Excess Yard Waste

On yard waste collection days, there are no volume limits. You may set out as many bags or bundles as you have, as long as they comply with the requirements.

Between seasonal yard waste collection days you can:

Store excess yard waste for your next yard waste collection day. See-through plastic bags are recommended for longer term storage, or when stored in potentially damp conditions. Paper yard waste bags can be used if stored in a dry location for shorter than a week.
Drop off yard waste at an Eco Station for free. Loose or in paper bags is preferred. If you bring yard waste in plastic bags, you will be asked to debag it before dumping the contents into the yard waste bin. No plastic bags are permitted in the yard waste bin.
Top up your food scraps cart with yard waste, as long as you can close the lid. Do not compact your food scraps cart, as material may not come out when being tipped into the truck.
Compost at home and leave grass clippings on the lawn. These practices return valuable nutrients to your soil.