Black Cart Garbage Collection

The City has begun rolling out Black Cart Garbage Collection to households across Calgary. Expected delivery date - Winston Heights/Mountview November 15 - 28, 2010.

The City of Calgary has provided the following information on their web site.

Black Cart Garbage Collection uses trucks with mechanical arms to collect garbage from wheeled carts. Homes that currently have garbage collected by hand will receive a black cart. Residents will put their regular household garbage in the cart instead of in a trash bag or can. Black carts will improve garbage collection in a number of ways:
The carts keep garbage from getting scattered by animals or wind, and keeps neighbourhoods cleaner. Garbage stays in and pests stay out.
Black Cart Garbage Collection is more efficient, because it is collected using one-person trucks instead of two person crews.
The carts are safer for residents and collectors, because they reduce heavy lifting and contact with sharp objects.
There is no extra fee for Black Cart Garbage Collection, and additional bags will still be collected. The City encourages home owners to reduce and recycle as much material as possible. However, garbage that does not fit in the cart can be put in bags or cans and set next to it.

What's the Plan for your Old Garbage Can?

If you have garbage cans, you may want to keep them for times when you can't lift all your trash in your black cart. Or, here are some other options:

Reuse it!
Garbage cans make great storage for things like sports equipment, tools, or extra soil for your garden. If you have a great idea on how to reuse your garbage can, share it on our facebook page .

Recycle your old garbage cans for free!
Unwanted metal and plastic garbage cans will be accepted for recycling free of charge until Dec. 31, 2010* in east Calgary, and again when black carts are delivered to the northwest and southwest this spring.

Take your old cans to the Throw 'n' Go facilities at either the Shepard Landfill (68 St. and 114 Ave. SE) or the East Calgary Landfill (68 St. and 17 Ave. SE). Please note: All metal parts and wheels must be removed from plastic cans before they can be brought to the Throw 'n' Go.

Throw your can away!
If you can't reuse or recycle your can, you can put it out for garbage collection. Do not try to put the can in your blue or black cart. Instead, clearly mark the can FOR DISPOSAL and leave it out for garbage collection.

*There will be no charge for dropping off garbage cans at Throw 'n' Go locations unless you are bringing other materials for disposal at the same time.