Blue · Recycling
Paper, cardboard and accepted packaging. Empty, clean and place loose in the cart, without a garbage bag. Plastic products such as toys are not accepted just because they are plastic.
Content reviewed: October 2, 2026
Waste collection and recycling in Calgary
Find collection days, sort into the blue, green and black carts, and check where batteries, electronics and bulky items belong.
New from October 1, 2026: Calgary blue carts accept additional flexible plastic packaging, certain packaging tubes, foam packaging, and empty food and personal-care aerosol cans. Follow the current municipal acceptance list. Visit the official resource ↗
Three carts, three purposes
Green · Food & yard waste
Remove food from packaging. Follow the guidance for leaves and garden trimmings. Fill the cart first; use paper yard-waste bags for extra yard material.
Black · Remaining household waste
Ordinary waste that cannot be reused, recycled or composted, such as diapers. Check separate instructions for batteries, chemicals and other special waste.
Step by step
Check collection dates for your address
Set reminders, print a calendar or sync it to your phone. Blue carts are generally weekly and black carts every other week. Green carts are generally weekly April–October and every other week November–March. Your address calendar determines the actual dates.
Visit the official resource ↗Separate food and packaging
Do not recycle containers full of food. Empty and clean accepted packaging, place it loose and flatten boxes. Use What Goes Where when uncertain.
Visit the official resource ↗Set carts out before 7 a.m.
Close lids and follow placement instructions. Leave at least one metre on each side, half a metre behind and three metres above. Bring carts back by 7 p.m. on collection day. Extra recycling does not belong beside the blue cart.
Visit the official resource ↗Look up batteries, paint, electronics and bulky items
Check the official item search for collection points, Eco Centres or other routes. Verify acceptance, location and fees before travelling. Keep batteries and hazardous chemicals out of household carts.
Visit the official resource ↗Check condominium and neighbouring-city arrangements
This guide covers Calgary residential cart service. Follow property management instructions for shared waste rooms. Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere and Okotoks have their own sorting rules and calendars.
Visit the official resource ↗Sources
Seasonal service, accepted items and collection adjustments can change. Use the address calendar for dates and What Goes Where and current municipal lists for individual items.