To help residents divert organic yard waste from the landfill the Town offers several options for various types of yard waste.
For dealing with extra yard waste, the Town has made changes that are more efficient and at the same time more convenient for residents, especially during spring and fall clean up. Learn more below about:
All single-family homes in Okotoks have green carts for organics curbside collection. All yard, food and pet waste are accepted in the green cart for weekly collection (bi-weekly November to April).
We've now got larger organics (green) carts! If you are regularly filling your green cart, consider increasing the size of the green bin to 240L - to double your capacity it only costs $1.80/month (billing period every 2 months).
To upgrade to a 240L cart, fill out the Garbage, Organics & Recycling online form.
The program formerly known as Cut ‘n Call has been phased out. Resident use of this program had vastly decreased in 2017 since households now have the added convenience of curbside organics collection.
Just drop your yard waste at the cur beside your cart on collection day! During the months of May and October you can now place additional yard was at the curb beside your green cart for pick up on your regular collection day.
For occasional overages, save your yard waste organics (grass, leaves and branches) for next collection day or consider dropping off grass clippings and leaves (no branches) at the Eco Centre’s drop off bins.
Please note this drop-off area is for resident use only and is not intended for commercial operators. Local contractors, please take your building waste to the Regional Landfill located in the MD of Foothills (www.mdfoothills.com ). The Okotoks yard waste drop-off area is monitored to ensure there is no illegal dumping.
Normal hours of operation are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. It is closed Sunday, Monday and statutory holidays.
Residents are encouraged to grasscycle. Grasscycling is the natural recycling of grass by leaving clippings on the lawn after mowing. Grass clippings will quickly break down, returning nutrients to the soil and can actually produce a healthier looking lawn.
Please place your Halloween pumpkins into your green organics cart for recycling. If you do not have a green cart, pumpkins can be dropped off at the Eco Centre.
Christmas Tree Curbside Pick-up
The Town collects and chips trees onsite. Watch for signs in your neighbourhood in the early new year.
Trees with ornaments, wires, plastic or placed in plastic bags, will not be picked up or accepted at the chipping site.
Alternatively, you can cut your tree up and place it in the green organics cart.
When yard waste (leaves, branches and grass clippings) is buried in the landfill, it doesn't turn into soil or compost because there's no oxygen. Instead, it creates nasty stuff like liquid leachate and methane, which contributes to climate change. By composting, this material is kept out of the landfill and given a second life as compost that can be used in gardens, yards and farms.
