Edmonton's waste management system has undergone a radical transformation in recent years, and understanding how to properly use the three-color container and bag system is critical for all city residents. The Edmonton Cart Rollout program, launched in full scale in March 2021, represents the biggest change to the waste collection system in decades and is the first major step in the city's 25-year strategy to achieve 90 percent diversion from landfills through the concept of zero waste. This system has not only changed the way waste is collected, moving from manual bag lifting to automated trucks, but has also fundamentally changed how Edmontonians sort their waste at home by introducing mandatory separation of food waste from regular garbage.
For more than 250,000 single-family homes, the system includes three main waste streams: black bins for residual waste, green bins for food waste and organics, and blue bags for recycling. Each of these streams has its own specific rules, collection schedules, and preparation requirements, and a proper understanding of these details not only helps to avoid problems with missed collections but also makes a significant contribution to the city's environmental goals. As of December 2021, more than 98 percent of households had adapted to the new system, and the city had collected more than 35,000 tons of organic waste in just the first eight months of full-scale implementation.
Program history and zero waste philosophy
Edmonton has a long history of innovation in waste management. In 1999, the city built the world's first large-scale composting facility, becoming a pioneer in organic waste recycling. At its peak, Edmonton diverted approximately 60 percent of its waste from landfills using centralized mechanical separation of organics from mixed waste. However, this system had limitations: the technology worked well for about fifty percent of organic waste, but the other half was still mixed with garbage, resulting in high levels of contamination in the final compost product.
The city estimates that approximately fifty percent of all single-family residential waste can be composted, but before the green bin program was launched, only six to eight percent was actually composted. By comparison, most municipalities aim to capture about eighty percent of their organic waste, and when they launch a composting program, they typically capture thirty to fifty percent at the beginning, but with time, practice, and public education, they can raise that figure to eighty percent. Calgary, which launched its green bin program in June 2017, later than Edmonton, built the newest and best facilities, demonstrating that in the waste management industry, it is sometimes more profitable to wait and implement the most advanced technology.
The Edmonton Cart Rollout pilot project was launched in April 2019 with 8,000 households receiving a green bin for food waste and a black bin for garbage, continuing to separate recycling in blue bags. The program was originally planned to be expanded to the entire city in the summer of 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the launch, and the pilot phase continued until the spring of 2021. The full-scale launch began in March 2021 and was completed by August 30 of that year, covering virtually all single-family homes in the city. Starting in 2023, the program also began to expand to multi-unit buildings and condominiums, with southeast Edmonton becoming the first zone for apartments.
Black bin: residual waste and size optimization
The black bin is for all waste that cannot be recycled or composted and is the final destination for materials that will inevitably end up in a landfill. The philosophy of the program is to minimize what goes into the black bin by maximizing what goes into the green bin and blue bags. A proper understanding of what belongs in the black bin helps residents optimize their bin size and potentially save money on their monthly utility bills.
The black bin is for non-recyclable plastics, which represent one of the largest categories. This includes plastic cutlery, straws, Styrofoam, and chip bags. Food wrappers of all types also go in the black bin, as they are usually made of mixed materials or coated with substances that make them unsuitable for recycling. Paper plates, cups, and takeaway containers often have a wax or plastic coating that makes them unsuitable for recycling, so they also belong in the black bin.Soiled items are another important category. Dirty diapers and pet waste should always go in the black bin for sanitary and practical reasons. Used napkins and paper towels that have been in contact with cleaning chemicals or other inorganic substances also belong in the black bin, although it is important to note that napkins and paper towels soiled with food can go in the green bin for composting. Vacuum cleaner bags and collected dust cannot be composted or recycled due to their mixed material content and potential allergens.Textiles and clothing that are too damaged to be donated to charities can be placed in the black container. However, the city encourages residents to first consider donation options or textile collection programs, which are available in some locations. Worn-out toys, especially those made of plastic or mixed materials, also belong in the black container if they cannot be repaired or separated for donation.Broken glass or ceramics can go in the black container, but must be placed in a secure container before disposal to protect waste collection workers. Whole glass jars and bottles, however, should go in blue recycling bags after cleaning. It is important to make this distinction because broken glass poses a safety risk and cannot be recycled through traditional sorting processes.It is critical to understand what should never be placed in the black container. Hazardous materials, including batteries, paint, chemicals, motor oil, and other toxic substances, must be taken to an eco-station for proper disposal. Electronics, including computers, televisions, telephones, and any items with a cord or battery, should also go to an eco-station or special electronic waste collection points. Placing these items in the black bin not only violates city regulations but can also cause environmental damage and loss of opportunities to recover valuable materials.Edmonton offers residents a choice between two main sizes of black bins to manage their unique household needs. The standard size is 240 liters, which is designed for larger families or households that generate a significant amount of residual waste. The small size is 120 liters and is recommended for small households, couples, or individuals who want to minimize their waste. For exceptional cases of families with seven or more people, the city provides an extra-large 360-liter container, although residents must be placed on a waiting list to receive this size.The choice of container size has financial implications. As of 2021, households with a 240-liter container paid $48.32 per month, while those who chose the smaller 120-liter container paid slightly less at $47.22 per month. While the savings may seem modest, they add up over the course of a year, and choosing the right size also reflects a household's commitment to reducing waste.The initial deadline for choosing a smaller bin size was February 12, 2021, before the program launched. Residents who did not indicate a preference were automatically assigned the larger 240-liter bin by default. However, the city understands that households may need time to assess their actual needs, so free exchanges are available after receiving the container. The city recommends that residents wait two to four weeks with their initial container to assess whether it meets their needs before requesting an exchange. This flexibility helps residents make an informed decision based on real experience, not just estimates.Some residents have found that even the larger 240-liter container is insufficient for their needs. Cassia Budinski, who lives in the northeast community of Ozerna with her family of eight, said it is a struggle to fit all the regular trash generated over two weeks into a 240-liter container. She has been placed on a waiting list for a larger 360-liter container, which the city provides to families with seven or more people. At the opposite end of the spectrum, some residents found that they received more containers than they needed, especially in the case of multiplexes, where each unit received its own set of containers, even if the total waste generation did not justify such a quantity.Black bins are collected every two weeks throughout the year. This represents a significant reduction from the previous weekly collection system and was designed to encourage residents to reduce their residual waste through better food waste sorting and recycling. The biweekly schedule also helps stabilize utility rates and improves collector safety through the use of automated trucks instead of manual bag lifting.## Green bin: a revolution in food waste compostingThe green bin represents the most significant change in the daily routine of Edmontonians and is at the heart of the city's transformation to a zero-waste system. This bin is designed for all food waste and most organic materials that would previously have inevitably ended up in the trash and in landfills, where they would have produced methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Instead, the organics collected in green bins are processed at city facilities and turned into high-quality compost that is sold to consumers or used to enrich soil, build soil quality, and improve the growth of grass, ornamental plants, vegetables, and fruit trees.
All food waste, without exception, belongs in the green bin, making the system extremely easy to understand in terms of food categories. This includes fruit and vegetable peels, pits, and stems of all types. Meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish are fully accepted, including all bones and shells. This is a critical difference from some municipal composting programs that prohibit meat due to concerns about odors or pests, but Edmonton's advanced facilities are designed to handle these materials without issue.
Rice, pasta, grains, and cereals of all types can go in the green bin. Bread, baked goods, and desserts are excellent candidates for composting, even if they contain sugar or other additives. Dairy products, including cheese, milk, yogurt, and cream, are all accepted in the green bin. Eggs and eggshells can go in the bin, as can nuts and their shells of all types.
Spoiled leftovers, which are one of the largest categories of food waste in a typical household, go directly into the green bin. Sauces, cooking oil, and grease are also accepted, although the city recommends blotting them with a napkin or paper towel before placing them in the bin to minimize mess and odors. Coffee grounds, filters, loose tea, and tea bags are all great for composting and actually add valuable nutrients to the final compost.
In addition to food waste, the green bin also accepts certain other organic materials. Small amounts of yard waste, including leaves, grass clippings, and twigs, can be placed in the green bin. This is especially convenient for residents who have small yard projects or who want to deal with fall leaves without having to wait for seasonal yard waste collection events. However, for large quantities of yard waste, the city offers separate seasonal collection twice in the spring and twice in the fall with no volume restrictions.
Soiled paper products are a category that often causes confusion, but the rule is simple: if the paper is soiled with food, it goes in the green bin. This includes used paper towels and napkins, paper plates with food residue, and placemats. It is important to note that this only applies to paper products contaminated with food or organic matter, not those contaminated with cleaning chemicals or other inorganic materials.
Wooden items can also go in the green bin if they are untreated and food-related. Wooden stir sticks, chopsticks, and toothpicks are all acceptable. Cold ashes from barbecues or fireplaces can go in the green bin, but must be placed in a certified compostable or paper bag and must be completely cooled to avoid the risk of fire. Untreated wood, sawdust, and wood shavings from woodworking projects can also be composted.
Understanding what does not belong in the green bin is just as important as knowing what is accepted. The biggest source of contamination in green bins is plastics of all types. This includes regular plastic bags, plastic wrap, food wrappers, and containers. Even items labeled as “compostable” or “biodegradable” plastics should not go in the green bin, with the sole exception of certified kitchen bin liners, which are discussed below.
The city clearly states that compostable plastics do not break down in Edmonton's processing system. These materials are designed to break down in commercial composting facilities under specific temperature and moisture conditions that are not always replicated in Edmonton's system. When compostable plastic liners are used in the green bin, they are torn open at the processing facility to release the food waste, and then the plastics themselves are sorted as waste. This makes them a less desirable option compared to paper liners, which are actually composted along with the food waste.
Food wrappers and packaging must be removed before placing food in the green bin. This includes Styrofoam meat trays, plastic vegetable wrappers, and any other packaging materials. Disposable coffee cups, which are made from a mixture of plastic and paper, cannot be composted and should go in the black bin. Rocks, large branches, and treated wood cannot be composted and must be disposed of through other channels.
Glass, metal, and other inorganic materials do not belong in the green bin and can damage processing equipment. Pet waste, including dog excrement and cat litter, is strictly prohibited due to sanitary reasons and potential pathogens. Diapers and wet wipes are also not accepted and must go in the black bin. Construction and demolition waste, such as treated wood, insulation, and drywall, cannot be composted and must be taken to an eco-station or the Edmonton Waste Management Centre.
The issue of green bin liners is a source of considerable confusion among residents. The city clearly states that liners are accepted but not required for the green bin. Residents have three options for liners: paper liners, regular plastic liners, or BPI/BNQ-certified compostable plastic liners. Of these options, paper liners are the best choice from an environmental standpoint, as they are actually composted along with food waste and do not need to be sorted as garbage.
Regular plastic liners and compostable plastic liners are treated the same way at the facility: they are torn open to release the food waste, and then the plastics themselves are removed as contaminants. This makes them a less desirable option, but they are still accepted for the convenience of residents who believe that liners help keep their kitchen bins clean. It is important to note that the city emphasizes that the only plastic items, conventional or compostable, that you should place in your food waste are bin liners.
The size of the green container is standardized at 120 liters for all households. Unlike the black container, where residents can choose between sizes, the green container is provided in one size based on the city's estimates of typical household needs for food waste collection. Some residents have expressed concern that the 120-liter container is insufficient, especially for those with large yards who generate significant amounts of yard waste in addition to food waste.
The City Council considered proposals to give residents the option to purchase larger green bins for those with exceptionally high needs. Councilor John Dziadyk raised the issue at a council meeting, noting that there are people who currently stuff their green containers to the top with grass, leaves, and weeds and compress it down as much as they can. However, at this time, the city's recommendation for residents with large amounts of yard waste is to use the seasonal yard waste collection program, which runs twice in the spring and twice in the fall with no volume restrictions.
The frequency of green bin collection is seasonal, reflecting the different rates of decomposition and odor generation throughout the year. From spring to fall, green bins are collected weekly, ensuring regular removal of food waste during the warmer months when decomposition occurs more quickly and there is greater potential for odors and pests. In winter, when containers are less full and cold weather helps control odors, collection changes to every two weeks. The transition from weekly to biweekly collection usually occurs starting on November 9.
The kitchen food waste bin is an integral part of the green bin system and is provided to every household along with the large outdoor bin. This small bin is designed to be stored in the kitchen, where it can conveniently collect food waste during meal preparation and cleanup after meals. The bin is then emptied into the large outdoor green container when it is full or on a regular basis to minimize odors.
The city's kitchen bin is dishwasher safe, making it easy to clean and maintain. The city recommends washing the bin regularly to minimize odors, especially during the warmer months. Many residents have found creative ways to reduce odors and keep the bin clean. Some use paper mushroom bags as liners and shred flyers at the bottom to absorb moisture. Others keep food waste in the freezer in a zipper bag until collection day, completely eliminating odor and pest problems.
For residents of apartment buildings, the system is slightly different. Residents receive small green buckets to collect food waste in their units, but instead of individual large containers, building managers receive large communal composting containers. Residents empty their kitchen buckets into the communal green containers in their building's trash room. This approach requires coordination and education to ensure that all residents understand what can and cannot go in the containers, and some buildings have had problems with contamination when residents mistakenly placed recycling or garbage in the green containers.
Blue bags: a recycling system that has remained unchanged
While black and green bins represent significant changes to Edmonton's waste management system, blue recycling bags have remained relatively unchanged, providing an element of familiarity during the transition. Edmonton uses a blue bag system for household recycling, where all recyclable items are placed in clear blue bags and put out for collection on the curb on the designated collection day.
Paper and cardboard represent one of the largest recycling categories by volume. Computer and writing paper of all types can go in the blue bags. Flyers, newspapers, and magazines are easy to recycle and should be placed loosely in the blue bag without removing staples or other small hardware. Non-foil gift wrap and greeting cards are accepted, although metallic foil wrap should go in the trash. Mailing junk and paper envelopes, including those with windows, can be recycled. Stuffed envelopes are not accepted due to their mixed material construction.
Paper bags from grocery stores are great for recycling. Paper tubes from paper towels and toilet paper, as well as paper egg cartons, can go in the blue bags. Flattened boxes, such as cereal boxes, shoe boxes, and cardboard boxes, should have their packaging removed and be flattened before being placed in the blue bag to make efficient use of space. Pizza boxes are a special case: the liner must be removed and any large pieces of food must be removed, but some grease stains are acceptable and do not disqualify the box from recycling.
For cardboard that is too large for the blue bag, the city provides specific instructions. Large pieces of cardboard must be flattened and tied together with tape. These bundles can be placed under the blue bag on the curb, or the pieces can be placed inside a collected cardboard box. Bundles and boxes must be less than one meter long and half a meter wide to ensure safe and efficient collection.
Metal containers of all types are accepted in blue bags. Cans, tin cans, and trays should be clean and empty, but labels may remain, and lids may remain on cans. Aerosol cans are accepted if they are empty and do not contain hazardous materials. Aluminum foil and packaging can be recycled, and the city recommends rolling foil into a ball to facilitate sorting. Beverage cans, such as soda and beer cans, are among the most easily recyclable items.
Food cans, such as soup and pet food cans, must be empty and clean, and lids must be fastened inside the can for safety. Metal tin cans, such as cookie tins, are also accepted. Foil trays, pie pans, and baking pans can go in the blue bags after being cleaned of food.
Glass bottles and jars are accepted in Edmonton's recycling program, although some neighbouring municipalities, such as St. Albert, do not accept glass due to concerns about breakage. In Edmonton, food and beverage bottles and jars must be clean and empty, but lids and labels can remain on. Food jars, such as jam and pickle jars, and beverage bottles, such as ketchup and wine bottles, are all recyclable. It is important to rinse glass containers to remove food residue, as contaminated items can ruin an entire batch of recycling.
Plastic containers are one of the most challenging categories due to the variety of plastic types and frequent changes in recycling markets. Edmonton accepts a wide range of rigid plastic containers, including bottles, cups, jars, and tubs. Shampoo, salad dressing, and cleaning product bottles are all accepted. Vinegar and laundry detergent jugs can be recycled. Mayonnaise jars and tubs of margarine, yogurt, and sour cream all go in the blue bags.
Plastic clamshell containers, such as those for berries, spinach, and eggs, can be recycled. Takeout containers and disposable plastic beverage cups are also accepted in the Edmonton program. It is important to note that this category does not include waxed paper coffee cups, which have a plastic lining that is difficult to separate from the paper and must go in the trash.
Plastic bags can be recycled in Edmonton, but only if they pass the “stretch test.” The city instructs residents to pull on a plastic bag: if it stretches, put it in the recycling; if not, put it in the trash. Recyclable plastic bags include grocery bags, bread bags, and dry cleaning bags. These bags should be stuffed inside a single bag and tied before being placed in the blue recycling bag to prevent them from getting stuck in the sorting equipment.
It is important to understand that the city does not use the resin number symbols on the bottom of plastic items to determine what can be recycled in Edmonton. While these symbols help industry workers identify what type of plastic an item is made of, Edmonton's ability to recycle an item depends on more than just the type of plastic. It also depends on the city's ability to sort, sell, and transport it to a buyer. The city recommends that residents recycle their plastic containers, disposable plastic cups, and stretchable plastic bags, as they are compatible with sorting equipment and are usually made from plastics for which there are markets.
Beverage containers are a special category that can go in blue bags or be returned to bottle depots for a refund. Soda and wine bottles, soda and juice cans, milk and juice cartons, juice boxes, and milk jugs are all accepted in blue bags. Straws from juice cartons should go in the trash because they are too small to be sorted. For deposit containers, residents can choose between getting a refund at a bottle depot or simply recycling them through the blue bags without receiving a refund.
Understanding what does not belong in blue bags is critical to maintaining the quality of the recycling stream. Food-contaminated items are one of the biggest sources of contamination. Greasy pizza boxes, used paper towels, or dirty containers should never go in blue bags. A quick rinse is sufficient for most items and prevents food residue from contaminating and spoiling other recyclable items.
Plastic bags and wrap that do not pass the stretch test should go in the trash or be taken to a local recycling depot that accepts soft plastics. These materials get stuck in sorting equipment and can cause significant delays and damage. Hazardous materials such as batteries, electronics, and paint cans should never go in blue bags and should be taken to an eco-station.
Non-recyclable plastics are another significant category of exclusions. Styrofoam, plastic cutlery, and straws are not accepted in the blue bag program and should go in the black bin. Large pieces of Styrofoam, such as packing blocks, can be taken to the recycling center for free. Disposable items present numerous problems. Waxed paper disposable cups for coffee, smoothies, and fountain drinks cannot be recycled and go in the black bin, although plastic cups can be placed in the blue bag. Disposable sauce packets go in the black bin because they are made of mixed plastic and paper.
Coffee capsules and stir sticks cannot be recycled because they are too small and will fall between the equipment at the sorting facility. They cannot be recycled into something new, so they should be placed in the black bin. Some manufacturers have return programs for coffee capsules, which residents can explore as an alternative. Drinking straws are also too small to be recycled and should go in the black bin. Plastic cutlery cannot be recycled and goes in the black bin.
Paper products present a few tricky cases. Napkins, paper towels, tissues, and tissue paper are not accepted for recycling. Instead, they can go in the green container for composting. Shredded paper is very messy and difficult to recycle because the pieces get stuck on other recyclable items and get stuck in the equipment at the sorting facility. Instead, place shredded paper in your green container where it can be composted.
Spiral containers from tea, coffee, nuts, and dough are made of mixed plastic and paper that cannot be separated for recycling. These items should go in the black container. Small bottle caps and pumps that are smaller than the palm of your hand should be placed in the black container, as they are too small and will fall between the equipment at the sorting facility. However, caps that are palm-sized or larger can be recycled. If bottle caps, lids, or pumps are attached to the bottle, they can be placed in the blue bag along with the bottle.
Household items such as plastic toys, garden chairs, laundry baskets, and plastic hangers are not accepted in blue bags. These large items should be taken to an eco-station, submitted to a large container event, or, if they are still functional, donated to others through charitable organizations or reuse programs.
Recycling preparation is simple but important for the efficiency of the system. All containers should be rinsed and dried before being placed in the blue bag. A quick rinse is sufficient for most items and prevents food residue from contaminating other recyclable materials. Cardboard should be flattened to save space. Labels do not need to be removed as the recycling process can handle them.
Items can be loose inside the blue bag or on their own in several blue bags. It is important not to put different materials inside each other, as this makes them difficult or impossible to separate at the sorting facility. Keeping items loose allows the sorting equipment to do its job effectively.
The placement of blue bags on the curb has specific requirements to ensure safe and efficient collection. Blue bags should be placed as close to the road or alley as possible. They should be at least one meter or three feet away from your container. This ensures that the collector can easily access the bags without danger from the automated arm of the truck that lifts the containers.
The frequency of blue bag collection usually remains the same as before the introduction of bins. For most households, this means weekly collection, although some areas may have a biweekly schedule depending on their specific service plan. There are no volume restrictions on recycling, so residents can put out as many blue bags as they need on collection day.
After collection, recyclable items are delivered by the collector to the sorting facility at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. The equipment sorts items based on size, shape, weight, and other factors. Some sorting is done manually, and some equipment uses robots to improve efficiency and accuracy. The sorted materials are then sold to buyers in Canada and around the world. This includes companies that further refine the materials and manufacturers that use them to create new products.
The recycling industry has changed in recent years with fluctuations in global markets, but there is still tremendous value in recycling. Each year, Edmonton recycles thousands of tons of materials, conserving natural resources and energy. The city encourages residents to practice the three Rs in order: reduce, reuse, then recycle. Recycling is good, but it still requires a lot of energy to collect, sort, ship, and process recyclable items. Reducing waste at the source is always the best option.
Rules for placing containers and blue bags
Placing containers and blue bags correctly on the curb or in the alley is critical to ensuring that they are collected by automated trucks safely and efficiently. Automated collection trucks use a mechanical arm to lift containers and empty their contents into the truck, and this system requires specific space and placement to function properly.
The first step in proper container placement is to find a suitable location. Containers should be placed as close to the road or alley as possible, usually at the end of a driveway and to the side. Containers should be on level ground to ensure stability during the lifting process. Look around for obstacles that may be in the way, such as fences, vehicles, garages, power lines, trees, and shrubs.
The arrows on the containers are critical indicators of proper placement. The arrows should point toward the street or alley, away from your home. The container's wheels should point toward your home or be against the curb. If you have a curb, the container's wheels should be placed in the gutter between the curb and the road so that the container is actually on the road. If you do not have a curb or live in a rural area, place the container at the edge of your driveway and the road, making sure the container is stable on level ground and the wheels are closest to the ditch or your driveway.
Space requirements are specific and critical. Containers need one meter or three feet of space on all sides for the automated truck to lift them. This means at least one meter between your container, materials put out for recycling, fences, mailboxes, parked cars, and any other objects. One meter is about the length of your arm, so if you can easily walk around your containers, you know you're in good shape.
Two containers also need to be at least one meter apart. If they are placed too close together, the automated arm cannot access them safely. Containers that are not positioned correctly may not be emptied. There is also a vertical space requirement: containers need three meters or ten feet of space above them to be lifted safely by a collection truck. Look for obstacles such as parked vehicles, power lines, trees, and shrubs, and make sure there is sufficient space.
Do not lean a box or any other object against your container, as this may interfere with the lifting process. Cul-de-sacs and semi-circles present special problems due to the limited space in front of houses. It is best to park your vehicles in your garage or on your driveway on collection day and place your container at the end of your driveway. Otherwise, you risk having your container blocked by other vehicles.
For alley collection, the rules are similar, but with some differences. Find a spot that faces the alley, usually at the end of the driveway and to the side works well. Make sure your containers are on level ground and look out for obstacles such as fences, vehicles, and your garage. The arrows on your container should point toward the alley, away from your home, and the wheels should point toward your home. Space requirements remain the same: one meter or three feet on all sides and three meters or ten feet above.
Blue recycling bags should be placed separately from containers, at least one meter from the nearest container. They should not be placed directly behind your containers, as this can create problems for the collector. For large cardboard that has been flattened and tied, the bundles can be placed under your blue bag or the pieces can be placed inside a collected cardboard box.
Collectors pick up thousands of bags every day, and proper placement keeps their work safe and efficient. Failure to follow these placement rules may result in missed collections, meaning your waste will remain on the curb until the next scheduled collection day. While some Reddit users report that the one-meter distance is not strictly necessary and that collectors can often manage with slightly less space, it is always best to follow the official rules to ensure collection.
Collection schedules and holiday exceptions
Understanding your collection schedule is fundamental to successfully using the container system. The City of Edmonton has transitioned to a paperless system for waste collection calendars, with calendars now available digitally on the city's website and through the WasteWise app. The 2025-2026 waste collection calendars are available online and provide collection dates through April 2026.
Residents can find the calendars at edmonton.ca/WasteCalendar, where they will also find step-by-step instructions and a video tutorial on how to view and print their calendar at home. Using the city's WasteWise app is another convenient way to view collection calendars, receive collection day reminders, and access other timely waste-related information. Digital calendars help the city reduce the environmental impact and costs associated with printing and mailing collection calendars. The city completed its transition to paperless calendars in 2024.
For residents who need further assistance viewing or printing the calendar or downloading and using WasteWise, help is available by calling 311. Residents who do not have access to a computer or smartphone can also call 311 to request a printed calendar.
The standard collection schedule for most of the year is as follows: the black trash container is collected every two weeks throughout the year. The green food waste container is collected weekly in the spring, summer, and fall, but switches to biweekly collection in the winter, beginning the week of November 9. The winter schedule for food waste means alternating which bin is put out each week: the black bin goes out one week and the green bin the next week. Recycling in blue bags continues to be collected weekly throughout the year.
Collection begins at 7 a.m., so residents must have their containers and blue bags on the curb by that time on collection day. Some routes may arrive earlier or later depending on the specific schedule for your area, but 7 a.m. is the safest target time to ensure your waste is not missed.
Statutory holidays are the only exceptions to the regular collection schedule. If your collection day falls on a statutory holiday, your waste will still be collected, with the exception of two specific holidays: Christmas (December 25) and New Year's Day (January 1). There will be no waste collection on December 25 or January 1. If your regular collection day is Thursday, your waste will be collected on December 22 and December 29 instead of December 25 and January 1.
Recycling stations, the Edmonton Waste Management Centre, and the Reuse Centre will also be closed on December 25 and 26 and January 1, but will maintain normal operating hours at other times. Christmas trees will no longer be collected from the curb, and residents must remove all decorations and bring their natural trees to any Eco-Station, Edmonton Waste Management Centre, or any recycling depot after the holidays at no cost.
WasteWise app: your digital companion
The WasteWise app is the official waste management app for the City of Edmonton for residents and provides numerous useful features for navigating the bin system. The app is available for free download from the Google Play Store for Android devices and the Apple App Store for iOS devices.
The app's main feature is providing sorting instructions for hundreds of waste items. Residents can search for specific items and immediately find out if they belong in the black bin, green bin, blue bags, or require special handling at an eco-station. This feature takes the guesswork out of waste sorting and helps residents avoid common mistakes that can lead to contamination.
The app also allows residents to view their personalized waste collection schedule based on their address. This is especially useful for new residents or those who have just moved to a new area and don't know their collection day. The reminder feature sends notifications about collection days and seasonal notifications about big bin events, free weekends at the eco-station, and other timely waste management opportunities.
For those who want to improve their sorting skills, the app includes a fun waste sorting game where residents can practice their sorting skills in an interactive format. This gamified feature is especially useful for teaching children about proper waste management in an engaging and appealing way.
One of WasteWise's most impressive features is its multilingual support. The app is available in fourteen languages: English, Czech, German, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Punjabi, Portuguese, Russian, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese. This inclusivity ensures that residents from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds can access critical waste management information in their native language.
The app also has an online version for those who prefer to access information through a web browser instead of downloading the app. Residents can visit edmonton.ca/WasteWise to access all of the same features without having to install any software.
Ensuring Quality and Combating Contamination
One of the biggest challenges in any waste management program is contamination, when the wrong materials are placed in the wrong streams. In Edmonton's pilot program, contamination levels in green bins ranged from very low to 100 percent, where food waste bins were used exclusively for recycling. This variation demonstrates the importance of public education and ongoing engagement.
When residents properly separate organics at home and place them in the green bin, contamination levels are much lower, and removing residual contaminants at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre is much easier. Organics mixed with other waste in black bags result in high levels of contaminants, making the sorting process much more difficult. As a result, organics from green bins are much easier to process at the facility and produce higher quality compost compared to organics mixed in black bags.
The neighbouring municipality of St. Albert found that contamination levels for green organic waste bins dropped to less than ten percent after implementing a monitoring program using artificial intelligence. This demonstrates that with the right systems and education, high participation rates and low contamination rates are achievable. Leduc uses artificial intelligence to track plastic in organic containers, providing educational feedback to residents who make mistakes.
Recycling contamination is also a significant concern. Putting the wrong items in your recycling can contaminate other materials, damage equipment, and harm workers. Items such as garden hoses and string lights get tangled in sorting equipment, while electronics and lithium-ion batteries can pose a serious fire risk. Even a small piece of plastic or other waste in a compost delivery means it cannot be sold, rendering the entire batch useless.
The general consensus in the industry is that you need to spend between twenty and twenty-five percent of your total waste budget on education and public awareness. With centralized separation, cities need to invest more in sorting resources and technology, but not as much in public education. With home separation, the investment shifts to education to ensure that residents understand what goes where and why it matters.
The city continues to work on education through several channels. The WasteWise app provides instant answers to sorting questions. The city's website has detailed guides and posters that residents can download and print for reference. For multi-unit buildings, the city provides educational materials to property managers and visits each building before rollout to educate residents and managers on how to best sort their waste.
Achieving Zero Waste Goals
The Edmonton Cart Rollout program is the first major step in the city's 25-year Waste Strategy, which aims to achieve 90 percent waste diversion through the concept of zero waste. The 25-year strategy includes several key recommendations beyond the bin system, including the adoption of the Zero Waste Concept, volume limits for residual waste, support for the multi-unit sector and the industrial, commercial, and institutional sector in implementing the Separated Organic Waste Program starting in the fall of 2022, changing programs to support and inspire community-level waste reduction initiatives, promoting Extended Producer Responsibility policies, and implementing a process to limit and better manage single-use plastics and products in Edmonton by January 2021.
As of 2023, the city expected to achieve approximately 65 percent single-family residential waste diversion through the new service and new treatment facilities that had come online. This represents a significant improvement from the historical rate of six to eight percent organic composting. The High Solids Anaerobic Digestion facility became fully operational in 2021, providing additional processing capacity for the city's organic waste.
However, the city's growth and the expansion of the program to multi-unit dwellings have created new challenges. In 2027, the city expects to collect 121,000 tons of organic waste annually, which is more than current facilities can process. The city plans to build a new off-site composting facility at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre on Aurum Road in the northeast part of the city, but it could take until 2028 before the facility is designed, built, and operational.
In the interim, the city plans to hire a third party to handle the additional organics coming from more apartment and condominium complexes. The administration recommends a single-source agreement with Claystone Waste Ltd. to handle organic waste collected from apartments and condominiums. Organic waste collected from apartment buildings and condominiums is currently more contaminated—it includes wrappers and non-organic material—than green bin waste collected from single-family homes on the curb.
Automated container collection is the industry standard for safe and efficient waste collection and promotes stable and consistent utility rates in the future. Separating food waste and yard waste at home helps divert organic waste from landfills, avoids harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and generates useful products such as compost. Edmontonians have adapted to the changes with over ninety-eight percent acceptance as of December 2021.
The blue/green/black bin system represents a fundamental shift in how Edmontonians think about their waste. Instead of viewing everything as “trash” that goes into one container, residents now recognize that most of what previously went to landfill is actually a valuable resource that can be composted or recycled. This shift in thinking, from waste to resources, is at the heart of the zero waste concept and is critical to building a more sustainable future for Edmonton. With proper understanding, practice, and engagement, the city is approaching its ambitious goal of 90 percent waste diversion, setting an example for other Canadian municipalities.