Waste Collection Safety Tips

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Keep your waste collectors safe by following tips to properly sort and set out carts and bags.

Edmonton’s waste collectors work hard to provide residents with reliable, efficient collection services. Collectors work in all seasons and weather conditions, lifting and transporting waste.

Waste Services Bylaw 20363 requires that residents and property managers prepare safe and accessible waste collection areas for collectors. This includes set out locations at curbside and collection areas at multi-unit buildings.

Help our Collectors Stay Safe in the Winter

Snow, ice and cold weather can be safety hazards for our collectors. Please do your part to help keep them safe!

Curbside Collection Tips

Clear ice and snow away from your collection area. Please add traction if it is not possible to clear away ice.
Place your cart in front of windrows or snowbanks, not on top, behind or in. Provide as much space (1 metre) between the cart and snow as possible.
Place your cart on solid, level ground. You don’t need to shovel down to the asphalt if the road is compacted with snow.
Avoid placing waste near downspouts or discharge pipes. Your cart could freeze to the ground.
Keep recycling light. Each recycling bag must weigh less than 20 kilograms (44 pounds). Your collector should be able to lift a bag with one hand.
Ensure your carts aren’t overfilled to prevent waste from falling out and potentially creating hazards. Use the WasteWise app to properly sort your waste.

Make your waste accessible. Place recycling bags and yard waste as close to the street or alley as possible. Avoid placing recycling bags on top of or behind windrows.
Box sharp items like glass, nails and metal before putting them in your garbage cart, including glass, nails and metal scraps.
If you have front street collection, park your vehicle off the street on collection day if possible. If you are unable to move your car off the street, ensure it is at least 1 metre away from any cart on the street.
Avoid placing carts under power lines, trees or beside houses. Ensure your carts have 3 metres (10 feet) of clear space above them and 1 metre of space around them in all directions.
Be sure to set out your carts and recycling bags by 7am on your collection day.

Communal Waste Collection Tips

Shovel snow and ice away from bins. Bins on wheels are moved by collectors before pick up, and need an unobstructed path to a collection truck. If your snow removal is contracted out, please ensure that waste collection areas are properly maintained.
If your waste bins are behind a door, clear snow and ice away from doors and ensure collectors can open them.
Remove ice from collection areas. Some bins are wheeled up and down ramps. Icy conditions make this difficult.
Ensure all waste in a bag is sealed.
Dispose of electronic waste, household hazardous waste and bulky items like furniture at Eco Stations.

Avoid overfilling your property’s waste bin. Please contact your property manager if your bin is overfilled ahead of collection.
Call your property manager if access to your waste bin is blocked. Waste collectors cannot safely pick up a bin with vehicles, large items or snow blocking their path.
If you’re moving and do not want to transport large items, consult Edmonton’s Reuse Directory to find a local community organization that can accept donations in good condition.
Illegal waste dumping is a bylaw violation. If you see illegal dumping in progress, record and document as much information as possible and call 311. Visit Illegal Dumping for more information.

Using Your Carts in Winter

For More Information

Telephone	In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Email	wastesupport@edmonton.ca