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Waste Management Fees & Rates

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The City of Edmonton provides a wide range of programs and services to the public including the delivery of Waste Management Utilities that serve the needs of citizens. The City-owned utilities provide vital services which play an integral part in the day-to-day lives of City of Edmonton residents.

Utility Rates

While utility rates are not included in your property tax and are a separate monthly rate, they allow the city to provide the following waste services:

Monthly Waste Rates

Residential Curbside Collection

The monthly rates from January 1 to September 30, 2021, are:

  • $47.22 for curbside/alley collection

Effective October 1, 2021, the monthly rates will be:

  • $43.32 for Small (120L) garbage cart
  • $48.32 for Large (240L) garbage cart
  • $58.32 for Excess (360L) garbage cart

Residential Bin Collection

The monthly rate effective January 1, 2021 is:

  • $30.69 for residents living in multi-unit buildings with communal bin collection

Transition Rates for Residential Bin Collection

These monthly rates are effective January 1, 2021 for residents living in multi-unit buildings who are already receiving or will be transitioning to individual hand or cart-based collection from communal bin collection.

  • $37.30 for residents who began transitioning in 2019
  • $34 for residents who will begin transitioning in 2021

Eco Station Fees

Free Drop-Off

Batteries

When batteries enter the residential waste stream, they can leak toxic chemicals into the air, soil and water. They can also interact with other items in the trash and explode or catch fire. 

Avoid the risk by dropping off used batteries — big and small — at an Eco Station for safe recycling at no cost. 

Retailers that recycle used batteries:

*Please visit the retailer website for details and restrictions.

How to safely dispose of a battery:

  • Remove the battery from the device
  • Place tape over both ends of the battery, to prevent them from coming into other objects that could cause a reaction
  • Drop the battery off at an Eco Station, or one of the other locations listed above, for free

You may not realize how many devices contain batteries. If it makes noise, lights up or connects to the Internet, it probably contains a battery. Don’t forget about items like remote car locks, watches, musical greeting cards and cell phones.

Yard Waste
Yard waste (leaves, twigs, branches, fallen fruit, dead plants, grass) should be taken to an Eco Station so it can be composted at the City’s outdoor compost cure site.

Please take the following steps when bringing yard waste to an Eco Station:

  • Use a paper yard waste bag to contain yard waste, or empty plastic bags into the yard waste bin at the Eco Station.
  • Branches should be no more than 4 feet long and 2 inches in diameter.
Electronics
Electronics should go to an Eco Station so they can be broken down and recycled. This includes anything with a cord or battery such as:
  • old computer components
  • cell phones
  • phones, fax machines, answering machines
  • power tools, vacuum cleaners, floor polishers

For information about Alberta's Expanded Electronics Pilot Project, visit Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA).

Household Hazardous Waste

Residents should take household hazardous waste to an Eco Station for proper disposal, because if not handled properly it can be harmful to people and the environment. 

*Please note that commercial hazardous waste from businesses is not accepted at Eco Stations.

Household hazardous waste includes items such as: 

Automotive
  • Motor oil (max container size 20 litres), oil filters
  • Car batteries, antifreeze, gas, diesel
  • All automotive fluids, rust remover (max container size 20 litres)
Batteries
  • All kinds (see above)
Chemicals and Cleaners
  • Bleach, drain, toilet, oven cleaners, spot removers
  • Herbicide, pesticide, fertilizer
  • Photo chemicals and glues
Lighting
  • All light bulbs, fluorescent tubes/ballasts, lighting fixtures
Paints and Stains
  • Paints and stains (including aerosols). Full or empty, max container size 20 litres
Other
  • Aerosol cans (empty, full or partially full)
  • Caulking, cement powder
  • Fire extinguishers, propane tanks or bottles (max 20 lbs)
  • Smoke detectors
  • Needles and syringes (packaged in a thick screw-top plastic bottle like a laundry-detergent bottle)
Other
Scrap Metal

BBQs, bicycles, rebar

Tires

Only tires managed under the Provincial Tire Recycling Program will be accepted from residential customers.

Recyclables (clean)

Newspaper, metal cans, plastic bags

Appliances

Lawnmowers, power tools, stoves, washing machines

Drop-Off for a Fee

Cash payments are not available at Eco Stations until further notice.

Visa, MasterCard, American Express and debit cards accepted.

Item Fee Description
Small items
 $9 per item Chairs or comparable volume, or up to 2 garbage bags
Large items
 $16 per item Mattress, box spring, sofa or comparable volume
CFC removal
 $16 per item Fridge, freezer, air conditioner
Lighting (non-residential) $1 per tube and 50 cents per CFL All light bulbs, except fluorescent light ballasts containing PCB
Loose waste /
mixed load

Partial load: $29 per load

Level half-tonne: $39 per load

Heaping half-tonne: $49 per load

Mixed brush, tree trimmings, garden waste, soil / gravel, lumber, concrete pieces, wood or vinyl siding, shingles, windows, fencing

Cube van load is subject to viewing for comparison to half-tonne load


Note: Eco Station attendants have final say about the acceptability of items and the charges applied to each load. 

Edmonton Waste Management Centre (EWMC) Fees

Free Drop-Off

Item Description
Appliances Lawnmowers, power tools, stoves, washing machines
Batteries All kinds
Electronics This includes anything with a cord or battery such as:
  • Old computer components
  • Cell phones
  • Phones, fax machines, answering machines
  • Power tools, vacuum cleaners, floor polishers
Household Hazardous Waste This includes items such as:


Automotive: motor oil, oil filters, car batteries, antifreeze, gas, diesel, rust remover, all automotive fluids

Chemicals and cleaners: bleach, drain, toilet, oven cleaners, spot removers; herbicide, pesticide, fertilizer, photo chemicals and glues

Lighting: all light bulbs, fluorescent tubes/ballasts, lighting fixtures

Paint and stains: including aerosols, full or empty, max container size 20 litres

Other: aerosol cans, caulking, cement powder, fire extinguishers, propane tanks or bottles, smoke detectors, needles and syringes
Recyclable Materials  Newspaper, metal cans, plastic bags
Clean, segregated
Scrap Metal BBQs, bicycles, rebar
Clean, segregated
Tires  Only tires managed under the Provincial Tire Recycling Program

 

Drop-Off for a Fee

Item Charge per Tonne Minimum Charge
Residential Waste $69 $20
Non-residential Waste $98 $40
Charitable Organization Waste $27 $20
CFC removal (residential) - fridge, freezer, air conditioner $69
($16 surcharge per item in addition to per tonne fee)		 $20
CFC removal (non-residential) - fridge, freezer, air conditioner $98
($16 surcharge per item in addition to per tonne fee)		 $40
Mattresses or Box Springs (residential) $69
($16 surcharge per item in addition to per tonne fee)		 $20
Mattresses or Box Springs (non-residential) $98
($16 surcharge per item in addition to per tonne fee)		 $40
Soil (clean, residential only) $69 $20
Special Handling* $131 $131
Tires (Not managed under the Provincial Tire Recycling Program) $131 $131

*For more information and requirements regarding Special Handling please call 311.
 
Note: All waste is charged based on weight. Vehicles are weighed in and payment is made on the outbound scale. Payment options include debit and credit card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express). EWMC staff has final say about acceptability of any waste and the fees charged.

Reuse Centre Fees

The Reuse Centre will remain closed at least until Stage 3 of the province’s relaunch plan. Reuse Centre donations are not being accepted at either the Reuse Centre or Eco Station locations.

Organizations and individuals can purchase items at the Reuse Centre for a nominal fee and may take as many items as they require.

Individual - $5 per purchase

  • Up to 25 kg
  • Customers may purchase more than 25kg - the charge will be $5 for each up to 25kg amount

Non-profit Organization - $50 annual membership

  • Membership includes 25 punches per year
  • Customers may purchase more than 25kg - the charge will be 1 punch for each up to 25kg amount

Payment options

Cash, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Interac

Construction and Demolition (C&D) Fees

The Construction and Demolition (C&D) Recycling facility is managed and operated by an independent contractor.

Please visit KBL Environmental for fees and accepted items. 

*The City of Edmonton's seasonal aggregate recycling sites may accept certain types of concrete and asphalt at no charge. Acceptance criteria and facility information.

Secondary and Garden Suites

Waste Management Services Fee

If you are developing a secondary suite or garden suite, you need to know that your Waste Management Services Fee is affected:

  • Waste Management Services fee will change from 1 Residential Curbside Collection to 2 Residential Curbside Collection fees
  • The fees apply whether or not the secondary suite is occupied
  • Waste Management Services fees are listed on your monthly EPCOR utility bill

Detailed information is available on the various conditions and regulations for developing secondary suites and garden suites in the City of Edmonton.

Edmonton Cart Rollout

As part of the Edmonton Cart Rollout, if you have a legal, registered secondary suite and pay a separate monthly waste services fee for that suite, you will receive a set of carts for each suite. If you have not registered your secondary suite and only pay one monthly utility waste fee, you will receive only one set of carts.

If you would prefer to share one set of carts (one large garbage cart and one food scraps cart) between your suites, the waste account holder may submit a request online between  January 20, 2021 and February 12, 2021. Residents participating in the cart sharing program only pay one monthly waste utility rate. 

Learn more about the Secondary Suites Cart Sharing Program.

More opportunities to apply for cart sharing between suites will be available in September 2021.

Please note: This program is specific for secondary suites only. Other similar dwelling configurations, such as garden suites or duplexes, are not eligible for the Secondary Suites Cart Sharing program.

Multi-unit Utility Rate Changes

As of September 2019, City Council has approved changes, including customer classification, to the Waste Services Bylaw (18590) to ensure all residences pay the rate that matches the service they receive. Approximately 25,000 residents will be affected by this change and will see a utility rate increase. If you are affected by this change, you will receive a letter in the mail to notify you. Please see the questions and answers below for more information.

Does this rate change apply to all multi-unit residents?

No. Approximately 25,000 multi-unit residents will be subject to these rate changes at this time. These residences were identified by Waste Services as receiving service that does not align with the rate they pay. This rate adjustment will bring service and rate into alignment. However, more residences may see rate changes pending further assessments by Waste Services. Council and residents will be informed of these changes once assessment is complete.

Are these rate changes being used to fund the 25-year Waste Strategy?

No. The purpose of this rate increase is to bring the waste fee into alignment with the type of service received. Curbside/alley collection is more expensive than bin collection. The Waste Strategy will be funded by the annual Waste Services operating budget.

Why did my rate change? I haven’t moved or changed my waste disposal habits.

Previously, residents were charged a utility rate based on whether they lived in a single-unit home or a multi-unit home, regardless of the type of waste collection they actually received. This meant that some residents were not paying the appropriate rate for the type of service they received. Under the new customer classification, all residents will be charged a rate that matches the type of service they receive. 

I am planning to move in/out of a multi-unit building soon. What rate will I be paying?

Any multi-unit customers that move into an affected residence during the transition will immediately pay the rate equal to the service they receive at that building, even if they were previously on the transitional rate. They will not receive the five-year gradual rate increase.

Multi-unit customers that leave their building and move into a home receiving curbside/alley collection will pay the Residential Curbside Collection. Multi-unit customers that move to a building receiving bin collection will pay the Residential Bin Collection service rate.
 

Why does the rate for my household increase more than the average annual rate increase?

The assessed rate was previously determined by Bylaw 17555 and defined customers based on the number of residential units on a single tax parcel. For example, a single-unit residence on a single tax parcel was considered a Single-unit Customer. Multiple units on a single tax parcel were considered Multi-unit Customers. Each customer type, Single-unit and Multi-unit, were charged different monthly waste utility rates. This resulted in some customers being placed in the Multi-unit customer class and paying the corresponding lower rate even though they received the waste collection service associated with the Single-unit customer class. 

The new Bylaw 18590 defines customer class by service type as follows: 

  • Residential Curbside Collection: Customers who use bags or carts (typically single-unit homes or row houses); and 
  • Residential Bin Collection: Customers who use bins (typically condominiums or apartments).

Your residence was identified as a household that receives Residential Curbside Collection service, but pays the lower Residential Bin Collection service rate. This rate adjustment will align the rate with the cost of providing the service. 
 

Related Documents

Waste Services Bylaw 18590

Related Links

Reuse Directory

List of Edmonton non-profit organizations that accept donations.

Paying Your Utility Bill (EPCOR)

Utility bill payments can be made through EPCOR by mail, internet or telephone banking.

For More Information

Telephone

In Edmonton: 311

Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Email wasteman@edmonton.ca

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