Waste Collection

The City of Edmonton collects waste from over 400,000 single and multi-family homes. Never miss a collection by ensuring the following:

All waste must be set out by 7am on the correct collection day.
Set out garbage in your black cart, food scraps and organics in your green cart, and recycling in blue bags. No extra bags or containers will be collected.
Ensure carts have 1 metre of clearance and the lid is fully closed. Review these cart placement tips for more information.

I Want To

Blue Bag Collection

Blue Bags are collected on the same day as your garbage and food scraps. Place your clean recyclables loosely into blue see-through plastic bags, at least 1 metre away from your carts.

Blue Bags are available at all major grocery and hardware stores. The City of Edmonton does not sell blue bags. Only material placed in or beside the Blue Bags will be collected as recyclables.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are my carts collected in the spring/summer?

During the spring and summer months, the food scraps cart is collected every week, the same as recycling collection. Garbage carts are collected every 2 weeks.

Why are food scraps carts collected every week in the spring and summer and every two weeks in the fall and winter?

Food scraps carts are collected every week in the spring and summer to help manage odours and increased yard waste volumes. The collection frequency is reduced for the winter as the volume significantly decreases in winter months and the cold helps mitigate any odour. It also helps to control costs and maintain stable rates. This seasonal schedule adjustment is common in many other Canadian municipalities.

How often are my carts collected in the winter?

During the winter months, the food scraps cart is collected every 2 weeks. Food scraps cart collection will be on the opposite week from the garbage cart collection. Garbage carts will continue to be picked up every 2 weeks.

Where will I put my cart for collection after my street is plowed and there are windrows?

Place your cart in front of windrows, not on top, behind or in. Please make sure your cart set-out is level to the street or alley and maintain 1 metre of spacing between your cart and windrows or snowbanks.

If it works for your home, placing your carts at the end of your driveway is recommended - this way, you won’t need to do any additional shoveling.

There is a windrow and I cannot set out my cart without doing some shoveling. Am I expected to shovel?

As per the City’s Snow and Ice Control Policy, windrows less than 30 cm in height left behind blocking driveways are the responsibility of the property owner.

The City will clear windrows in front of driveways if they are higher than 30 cm (12 inches/1 foot). Please keep in mind that the equipment providing this service may be following a few hours behind the blading crews.

Learn more about winter roadway maintenance

Who should I call if my waste collection was missed?

Please report the missed collection through WasteWise or call 311.

I’m not able to set out my carts on my own. How can I get help?

Yes. The City offers Assisted Waste Collection.

What can I put in my food scraps (green) cart?

All solid food waste outside its packaging is accepted in the food scraps cart. This includes:

Spoiled food
Food scraps and peelings
Bones and eggshells
Meat, fish and poultry
Dairy products
Coffee grounds
Food-soiled napkins and paper towels

For help sorting your waste, use the WasteWise tool at edmonton.ca/waste or download the app.

How can I help my garbage collector work safely?

Read our Waste Collection Safety Tips. Your collector will be glad you did!

Where should I put my carts and blue bags on collection day?

On collection day, in order for the collection trucks to grab, lift and return the carts safely and neatly, carts should be placed:

At least 1 metre (3 feet) away from other carts, structures, snowbanks, bags or other objects
Upright, on level ground (not a platform, sidewalk or other structure) with lids closed
With arrows on the lid pointing towards the street/alley and wheels towards your house
With at least 3 metres (10 feet) of space between the top of the cart and overhead branches, wires, and others

Can I still use my garbage stand/enclosure?

Carts cannot be collected from garbage stands or enclosures, and most garbage stands are too small to fit carts for storage.

If your carts fit, you are welcome to store them inside a garbage enclosure or on a stand when they are not in use, but for collection, carts need to be on level ground, not on a platform, garbage stand or on sloped ground.

What happens if my collection day falls on a statutory holiday?

Garbage and recycling are collected weekly on the same day of the week year-round, including statutory holidays. The only exceptions are Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year’s Day (January 1).

Carts and blue bags must be out by 7am.

What should I do with needles and syringes?

Please read Needles, Syringes & other Medical Sharps for that information.

I live on the outskirts of town. Am I entitled to garbage collection?

The City provides waste pickup only where population density allows. If you're not in a collection area, you can arrange for collection on a cost-of-service basis by calling the Waste Management Customer Support Centre at 780-496-5698.

Telephone	In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Email	wastesupport@edmonton.ca

Telephone

In Edmonton: 311
Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311

wastesupport@edmonton.ca

Find Your Collection Day

I Want To

Learn How To:

Report a missed waste collection

Report or replace damaged or missing carts

Apartments and Condos Waste Collection

Curbside Cart Collection

Commercial Waste Collection

Collection Safety Tips

Blue Bag Collection

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about winter roadway maintenance

For More Information

Waste Collection

Find Your Collection Day

I Want To

Learn How To:

Report a missed waste collection Report or replace damaged or missing carts

Apartments and Condos Waste Collection

Curbside Cart Collection

Commercial Waste Collection

Collection Safety Tips

Blue Bag Collection

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about winter roadway maintenance

For More Information

Report a missed waste collection

Report or replace damaged or missing carts