Only if your black cart is full,
should you set out additional
garbage bags. Place them
at least 30 cm (1 foot) away
from your cart.
Blue
and
black
If your blue cart is full you
can take extra recycling to a
Community Recycle Depot.
Blue
and
black
cart collection
Your guide to recycling
and garbage pickup.
Max. 20 kg.
cart
collection
Min. 30 cm (1 ft.)
What if your carts are full.
Taking care of your carts.
hBlue cart: If your blue cart is full, you can
take your extra recyclables to a Community
Recycling Depot, or save them for blue cart
collection the following week.
You are responsible for taking care of your carts
and keeping them clean.
Exposure to rain and snow can reduce the
quality of recyclables, and wind creates a
problem with litter in the community. For this
reason, we only collect recyclables that fit inside
the blue cart or community depot bins. Any
material left outside of the collection containers
will be picked up as garbage.
Your guide to recycling
and garbage pickup.
2012-0261
h
Black cart: Only if your black cart is full,
should you set out additional garbage bags.
Place them at least 30 cm (1 foot) away
from your cart.
Only use standard plastic garbage bags that are
strong enough to hold the contents and weigh
less than 20 kilograms (45 pounds) each when
filled. If you can easily lift the bag with one hand
it should be okay.
Record your address and
cart serial numbers.
h Write your address on the side of your carts.
h Write down the serial number and keep it
somewhere safe. This will help us identify
your carts if they are lost or need repairs.
Damaged or missing carts.
If your carts are damaged or missing, call 3-1-1.
If you move.
Please do not take your carts with you. The carts
remain the property of The City. If you need a blue
or black cart at your new residence, call 3-1-1.
Where to go for answers.
If you have questions, visit calgary.ca/waste
or call 3-1-1.
calgary.ca/waste | call 3-1-1
How to use your carts. Follow these four steps:
The automated arms on the
collection truck need to clasp and
lift the carts. If there isn’t enough
space for the equipment to operate
properly, your recyclables and
garbage will not be picked up.
Min. 1 metre (3 feet)
To ensure collection, put out your
carts by 7 a.m. on your collection day.
1
Fill it: Place recyclables in your blue cart and garbage
in your black cart, and lower the lids. Make sure the
material in your carts isn’t packed so tightly that it
won’t come out.
Here’s what you
need to know.
Space it: If you can walk between and around
your carts that’s enough space. Leave at least
one metre (3 feet) of space between your carts and
other objects such as parked cars, power poles, utility
boxes, fences, downspouts and garages. Leaving at
least three metres (10 feet) of space above the carts
is important. If carts are placed underneath a tree,
overhang or power line, they can’t be collected safely.
What goes in each cart?
Your blue cart is for recycling. Your black cart is for
household garbage. To find out what you can put
in each cart, and how to prepare materials, please
review the Easy Guide to Recycling and What
Goes Where brochures that have been provided.
Where to put your carts.
Blue carts and black carts are collected in the
same location. Your carts came with a sticker
showing your collection day, and whether you
have back lane or front curb collection.
When do I put out my carts?
We start early. To ensure collection, put out your
carts by 7 a.m. on your collection day.
3
Point it: Point arrows on the lid toward the centre
of the road or lane.
2
Park it: The automated arms on the collection
truck need to clasp and lift the carts. If there isn’t
enough space for the equipment to operate properly,
your recyclables and garbage will not be picked up.
Place the carts on even ground at street/lane level.
Make sure you don’t block traffic.
h On the front street: Place cart wheels
against the front curb.
h In the back lane: Place cart wheels at least
30 cm (1 foot) away from your back hedge,
garage or fence.
Min. 1 metre (3 feet)
4
Store it: Pull your empty carts back on to
your property or against your fence by 7 p.m.
on your collection day.