Keep your waste collectors safe by following tips to properly sort and set out carts and bags.
The weather can present a few safety hazards for our collectors. Please do your part to help keep them safe!
- Keep it light. Yard waste and recycling bags should weigh less than 20 kg (44 lb). Tie branches into small bundles no more than 1.2 meters (4 feet) in length.
- Ensure your carts aren’t overfilled in order to prevent waste from falling out and potentially creating hazards. Use the WasteWise app to properly sort your waste.
- Make your waste accessible. Place blue bags and yard waste as close to the street or alley as possible; avoid placing blue bags on top of or behind dirt piles, or within 1 meter of carts.
- Box and label sharps before placing in your garbage cart, including glass, nails and metal scraps. Needles should be taken to an Eco Station.
- If you have front street collection, park your vehicle off the street on collection day, if possible. If you are unable to move your car off the street, ensure it is at least 1 meter away from any cart on the street.
- Clean up fallen fruit from your yard, keep your collection area tidy and ensure garbage and food scraps carts are completely closed to avoid attracting wasps.
- Periodically wash out your carts and store them in a cool, dry place to prevent attracting wasps and other pests.
- Remove wasp nests from your collection area. Consider placing an artificial wasp nest in the area to discourage wasps from building a nest there.
- Avoid placing carts under power lines, trees or beside houses. Ensure your carts have 3 meters (10 feet) of clear space above them and 1 meter of space around them in all directions.
- Trim branches near your collection area, but be mindful of when it's safe to do so. It is illegal to prune elm trees from April 1-September 30. Learn more about Dutch Elm disease.
- Be sure to set out your carts and blue bags by 7am on your collection day.
- Ensure all waste is in a sealed bag.
- Dispose of electronic waste, household hazardous waste, and bulky items like furniture at Eco Stations. View their Accepted Items list.
- Avoid overfilling your property’s waste bin. Please contact your property manager if your bin is overfilled ahead of collection.
- Break down and flatten large cardboard boxes.
- Remove all packing material out of boxes and place it into the appropriate waste container.
- Take construction waste to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre or any Eco Station.
- Call your property manager if access to your waste bin is blocked. Waste collectors cannot pick up a bin with vehicles or large items blocking their path.
- If you’re moving and do not want to transport large items, consult Edmonton’s Reuse Directory to find a local community organization that can accept donations in good condition.
- Illegal waste dumping is a bylaw violation. If you see illegal dumping in progress, record and document as much information as possible and call 311. Visit Illegal Dumping for more information.
