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These Waste Guidelines outline the different types of waste referred to in the Waste Services Bylaw 20363, as well as instructions for handling special packaging waste.
Waste Guidelines are approved by the Branch Manager, under delegated authority from the City Manager.
Updated February 22, 2023
Special packaging waste is material from a home that requires specific methods of packaging for disposal through collection or at City of Edmonton waste drop-off facilities.
The following definitions apply for the purpose of this guideline:
Special packaging instructions for restricted waste materials which must not be disposed of in a cart or a bin provided to a home for curbside collection or communal collection.
Medical sharps from a home must either be:
Special packaging instructions for waste materials disposed of in a cart or a bin provided to a home for curbside collection or communal collection, or when disposed of at a City Waste Facility.
Updated February 22, 2023
Restricted waste refers to material that cannot be set out for collection, but which can be dropped off at a City of Edmonton drop-off facility that accepts the restricted waste (an Eco Station or the Edmonton Waste Management Centre).
The following definition applies for the purpose of this guideline:
Updated February 22, 2023
Prohibited waste refers to material that cannot be set out for collection and cannot be taken to a City of Edmonton drop-off facility.
The following definitions apply for the purpose of this guideline:
Updated March 26, 2025
Recyclable materials are materials accepted for recycling through collection services and at City of Edmonton Community Recycling Depots.
Recyclable materials include:
| Material Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Beverage containers | All items accepted as part of the Beverage Container Recycling Regulation |
| Boxboard | Rigid paper packaging including cereal, egg cartons, shoe boxes and other food containers |
| Cardboard | Corrugated cardboard |
| Glass | All clear and coloured food and beverage containers, bottles and jars |
| Metal, aluminum | Rigid aluminum food containers and trays, foil, packaging and trays |
| Metal, steel | Steel food cans, paint cans, aerosol cans |
| Paper, newsprint | All paper products made from newsprint |
| Paper, mixed | Mixed paper products, including junk mail, computer paper, magazines, writing paper, gift wrap and paper bags |
| Plastic, film | Stretchy plastic bags, including grocery, bread, produce, frozen vegetable and blue bags |
| Plastic, rigid | Plastic bottles, jugs, jars, tubs and clamshell containers |
Recyclable materials must be prepared in advance of disposal by any means in accordance with the following requirements:
Updated February 22, 2023
Excluded organic materials are materials that are organic, or which are often perceived as organic, but cannot be disposed of in an organics (food scraps) cart or organics (food scraps) bin.
Excluded organic materials include:
Updated February 22, 2023
Yard waste refers to material that comes directly from outdoor plants on a residential property.
Yard waste material accepted for collection:
The following yard waste material is accepted at City of Edmonton waste drop-off facilities (Eco Stations and the Edmonton Waste Management Centre):
| Online | Contact 311 Online |
|---|
If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311
| Phone | 311 |
|---|---|
| TTY | 711 |