Calgary Blue Cart: More Packaging Accepted Starting October 1

What this is and who runs it

The blue cart is the residential recycling program run by The City of Calgary for single-family homes. It works alongside the black cart (garbage) and green cart (food and yard waste) programs. Blue carts are collected once a week, year-round.

Starting October 1, more packaging will be accepted in the blue cart. The City's website states these changes are part of Alberta's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy, which makes manufacturers responsible for managing the packaging they create. The City states these changes allow the same materials to be recycled across Alberta.

New items accepted starting October 1

According to the City's website, the new accepted categories are:

Flexible bags and wrappers: snack bags, wrappers, packaging wrappers and pouches
Tubes: toothpaste, deodorant and lotion tubes
Foam: foam packaging blocks, egg cartons, meat trays and takeout containers
Aerosols: hairspray, dry shampoo, shaving foam, sunscreen, cooking spray and whipped cream

Toothpaste tubes, deodorant containers, lotion tubes, and shampoo and conditioner bottles are also listed under plastic containers that can go in the blue cart.

How to prepare recyclables

The City's requirements are: empty, clean and loose.

Empty: Pour out liquids and scrape food bits into your kitchen compost pail.
Clean: Rinse out all food containers and shake out excess water.
Loose: Put empty and clean recyclables into the blue bin loose (unbagged).

The City states recycling facilities are designed to sort packaging, not the product or goods. Wrong items can jam or damage sorting equipment, put workers at risk, and contaminate recyclables.

All recyclables must fit inside the blue cart for pickup. Set out the blue cart by 7 a.m. on your collection day.

Packaging versus products

Only packaging belongs in the blue cart, not the product itself. Packaging is material used to contain, protect, transport or display a product. A product is the item you purchase to use, consume or keep. The City states products are not accepted in the blue cart even if they are made of paper, plastic or metal.

Examples from the City: recycle a shoe box, keep shoes out; recycle a cookie bag, keep cookies out; recycle plastic packaging, keep flashlights out.

What still cannot go in the blue cart

The City lists these categories as not accepted:

Household garbage: black garbage bags and kitchen catcher bags, diapers and feminine hygiene products, personal hygiene items, household cleaning products, dryer lint and sheets, furnace filters, food scraps, needles and diabetic lancets. Do not bag recyclables.
Electronics and batteries: vapes, single-use or rechargeable batteries, devices with built-in batteries, electronics, small appliances, cords and chargers.
Hazardous materials: containers with a hazardous symbol, even empty ones, must go to a household hazardous waste drop-off location. This includes propane tanks, antifreeze or motor oil containers, bear spray, car batteries, fluorescent light tubes, cleaning products, insecticides, paint cans and spray paint.
Household goods: items in good condition can be donated, given away or sold. Broken items go in the black cart. This includes hoses, cords, string lights, clothing and fabrics, curtain rods, mops, toys, sports equipment, laundry baskets, patio furniture, tires, decor and home goods.
Construction materials: small amounts go in the black cart; large quantities go to a City Eco Centre (fees apply). This includes wood, carpet and flooring, blinds and curtains, vinyl siding, pipes, fencing and wire.

Pickup day and checking items

The City offers several ways to check blue, green and black cart collection days:

Use the scheduling tool and type your address.
Sign up for free reminders by email or phone.
Print a calendar or add an online calendar (Google, iCal, Outlook).
Download the Calgary Garbage Day app for weekly notifications.

Holiday changes are listed on the holiday schedule page. For items you are unsure about, use the What Goes Where online search tool. The City states there is no change to your blue cart pickup schedule; it continues to be collected weekly.

If your blue cart is full, break down boxes to make more space. Extra recyclables can go to a Community Recycling Depot or a City Eco Centre. Do not leave extra recyclables outside of your cart.