The City of Calgary announced Thursday that Calgary’s green cart composting program will begin rolling out in June with all eligible homes ready to start their service by the fall.
Calgarians already use blue bins for recycling and black bins for their garbage.
Green carts will be delivered to homes across Calgary, starting in the southwest the week of June 5.
Cart delivery will continue in the northwest in July, followed by the northeast in August and then the southeast in September.
All eligible homes will have green cart service in time for the fall yard waste clean-up with carts provided to approximately 320,000 single-family homes up to (and including) fourplexes.
Last September, city councillors voted in favour of waiving the monthly fee associated with the composting program until January 2018. When fees are introduced, the program will cost homeowners an extra $6.50 per month.
In 2012, residents living in the communities of Abbeydale, Brentwood, Cougar Ridge and Southwood were part of a pilot program used to test out green cart collection.
City of Calgary spokesperson Philippa Wagner said the pilot was a success, with garbage collection cut “nearly in half.”
“We’re excited to expand this program to the rest of the city,” she added.
It’s estimated the program will help turn over 85 million kilograms of food and yard waste into compost each year.
Green cart collection start dates
Once all residents in a quadrant have their carts, then collection will begin as follows:
Southwest: Week of July 17
Northeast: Week of September 4
Northwest: Week of August 14
Southeast: Week of October 2
Items included with your green cart
The City of Calgary says green carts and starter kits will be delivered to homes quadrant by quadrant.
When they are delivered, residents will receive:
- Green cart– the same size as the blue cart
- Kitchen pail– to collect food scraps inside the home
- Starter supply of compostable bags– to line the kitchen pail
- Starter supply of paper yard waste bags– for extra yard waste that doesn’t fit inside the cart
- Instruction guide and collection schedule
How often will carts be collected?
Green carts will be collected every week on the same day as your blue cart recycling bin.
Black garbage bins will be picked up once every two weeks on a different day.
More information on your pickup schedule can be found on the City of Calgary’s website.
What goes in your green cart?
All food, yard waste and pet waste is accepted in the green cart. Extra yard waste can be put in paper yard waste bags and will also be collected.
More information
A step-by-step guide for using your green cart can be found on the City of Calgary’s Website, as well as a full list of what can go in your green cart.