About Waste & Recycling Services

Waste & Recycling Services runs waste reduction and diversion programs and services, collects waste, and manages landfills for residential and commercial customers in Calgary.

Our mission is to enable Calgarians to reduce and manage their waste responsibly, now and into the future.

Making a waste difference

Waste & Recycling Services is focused on implementing programs, policies and bylaw changes to help Calgarians and businesses manage their waste responsibly through a variety of diversion and reduction initiatives. Here are a few highlights:

Waste hierarchy

We’ve all heard of “reduce, reuse and recycle” but there’s even more to it! A waste hierarchy approach shifts the focus to waste reduction and reuse, the upper levels of the waste hierarchy.

Waste practices at all levels are important, however, the hierarchy is a reminder that we should be prioritizing actions at the top to cut down on waste that's made in the first place. 

To learn more details, click on each of the preferred sections in the graphic below or download a copy of the waste hierarchy.

Calgarians now throw out half as much garbage in their Black Carts as they did before Blue and Green Carts were in place.

How we can all participate

Moving up the waste hierarchy will take all of us working together – individuals, businesses, organizations and government, to change how we think about consumption and waste.

The best way to reduce waste is to not make it all.

  • For Calgarians

    Using your current items for longer and repairing when needed.

    Renting, borrowing or buying pre-owned items instead of new.

    Cutting down on food waste through smart shopping and storage habits.

  • For businesses

    Changing your supply chain, modifying a product's design to be easily repairable or leasing equipment instead of buying.

  • For government

    Creating policies, bylaws or regulations that support waste reduction behaviours.

Benefits of reducing waste

  • Saving money for Calgarians and businesses

    Making less waste means less cost overall to manage waste – whether that's waste collection, processing recyclables and food and yard waste or handling hazardous products like paint and chemicals. This keeps waste costs affordable for everyone.

  • Saving natural resources, energy and pollution

    Using products and items for longer saves natural resources, cuts down pollution and reduces the amount of energy needed to make new products.

  • Saving landfill space for future generations of Calgarians to use.

    Making less waste makes sure we have enough space for items that don’t have a reuse, recycling or composting option.

Building resiliency in our waste management

There is no one single waste option that will solve all our problems. But our collective efforts works to ensure that we have affordable and responsible programs in place for current and future generations of Calgarians.

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Build economic resiliency Reuse, recycling and composting industries create local jobs and economic opportunity.

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Build community resiliency Repair, reuse and sharing saves on replacement costs. It also encourages skills development, equity and growth for social enterprises. This boosts and diversifies our local economy.

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Build climate resiliency Less garbage produced by Calgarians means that The City landfills will last longer, reducing costs and cutting down greenhouse gas emissions.

Frequently asked questions

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