Waste Services

• Find your waste collection days!
• Report a missed or damaged cart

  Did your cart get missed on collection day? Perhaps it is in need of repair or has mysteriously disappeared? Use this quick form to report your issue so we get things back on track.

  Report Form

• Request services - new owner

  We have one easy form to fill out whether you are new to Okotoks, moving within Okotoks, or need to cancel your utilities! Filling out this form generates an automated request for delivery of garbage, organics and recycling carts to your new home.

  Set up your Town account (taxes, water & waste collection)

   Note: Please provide 5 working days' notice to the Town of Okotoks before services are connected or disconnected.

Cart Sizes & Extra Waste

• Cart Size Options

  Black Garbage Cart
  Standard (240L) This cart has a capacity of approximately three regular size bags.

  Green Organics Cart
  All food, pet and yard waste are accepted in the green organics cart.  Residents have the option to choose a larger cart size for a fee. Increase your cart size Large (240L) This cart has a capacity of approximately three regular size bags.

  Blue Recycling Cart
  Standard (240 L)

• Excess Garbage Bags

  Excess Bags
  If you exceed your garbage cart limit, you can purchase an excess yellow Town garbage bag. Bags are available at the Municipal Centre, Recreation Centre, Sobeys and Safeway. Cost per bag: see Waste Service fees

• I fill my garbage cart weekly. Can I pay for a second garbage cart?

  We encourage everyone to use the three different carts provided to reduce landfill waste. Many items placed in the garbage actually belong in recycling or organics instead. When used properly, waste audits show that one 240L garbage cart is enough for most households. To do that, here are a few tips:

  1. Make the most of your recycling and organics carts.
     • Use our Waste Search app to find out what goes where for hundreds of items.
       
        
  2. Purchase the Town's official yellow bags for excess garbage.
     • Each bag is $5 and available at the Municipal Centre, Recreation Centre, Sobeys, and Safeway.
     • These should be placed one foot away from your cart on collection day.
       
        
  3. Multi-family homes or legal secondary suites:
     • These types of residences have the ability to request an extra 240L garbage cart. Call 403-938-8054.
        
  4. Families with medical waste:
     • These types of residences have the ability to request an extra 240L garbage cart. Call 403-938-8054.
        
  5. Home-based businesses:
     • For homes that also have a business that requires a licence, the Town is responsible for collecting residential garbage only (see our Waste Bylaw).
     • If business activities result in more waste than can be placed in a 240L cart for bi-weekly collection, the business must arrange and pay for the removal of business-related waste from their property.
• Does the Town still collect excess garbage bags?

  Yes, if you use the Town's official yellow bag! 

  • If your garbage doesn’t fit in the cart, you can purchase official excess bags at the Municipal Centre, Recreation Centre, Sobeys, and Safeway.
  • On collection day, place extra bags at least one foot away from your cart. Only official excess bags will be picked up.

FAQs: Cart Collection

• I purchased a new home, how do I get a garbage, organics and recycling cart?

  We have one easy form to fill out whether you are new to Okotoks, moving within Okotoks, or need to cancel your utilities! Filling out this form generates an automated request for delivery of garbage, organics and recycling carts to your new home. Your carts will be delivered within 5 business day of your possession date, and collection service will start immediately once you've received your carts.

  Set up your Town account

  Note: Please provide 5 working days' notice to the Town of Okotoks before services are connected or disconnected.

  If you have any questions please contact Waste Services using the contact information at the bottom of this page.

• When is my garbage, organics and recycling collected?

  • Garbage carts are collected bi-weekly.
  • Blue recycling carts are collected weekly.
  • Green organics carts are picked up:
    • Weekly from April to the end of October
    • Bi-weekly from November to the end of March

  All carts must be out by 7 a.m.

  Use the online collection schedule to find your collection day. Using just your address, access your own personalized schedule and sign up for reminders.

  Download the free Okotoks Waste app to get instant access to your garbage, recycling and organics information in the palm of your hand, including your schedule.

       

• What happens when a stat holiday falls on a collection day?

  Collection happens as usual on stat holidays that fall on a collection day (i.e. Tuesday through Friday). The only exceptions are Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

  • When a stat holiday is approaching, check the mobile app or online schedule to ensure you know what day your collection is moving to. 
  • Better yet, sign up for reminders so you get a convenient reminder anytime there is a change to your collection day due to holidays, snowstorms, equipment breakdowns etc.!

FAQs: Cart Contents & Sorting Tips

• Will extra bags of yard waste be collected at the curb?

  Extra bags of yard waste placed beside your cart will not be collected. However, grass clippings and leaves (no branches) are accepted at the Eco Centre’s drop off bins. Grass and leaves can be dumped into the bins loose or in a paper or certified compostable bag. 

• How do I prevent my organics from freezing to the cart?

  We understand that winter conditions can create concerns about waste freezing inside bins. If the contents of your cart are freezing to the inside or getting stuck, collectors may be unable to fully empty them. The following tips may help:

  • Strain excess liquid out of wet, compostable material
  • Wrap kitchen waste in newspaper, a paper bag or already soiled paper (such as paper towel) to absorb moisture
  • Wrap and freeze material in your freezer and then place it in the organics cart immediately before collection so it can fall out easily
  • Line your cart with dry materials such as a paper bag
  • Layer kitchen organics with soiled paper or newspaper
  • Avoid pushing down or compacting materials in the cart

  If you find that material has frozen inside your cart, wait for warmer temperatures to thaw the material out. Try placing your cart in sunlight if possible and use a stick to loosen the stuck items.

  It's also a good idea to place your organics cart at the curb for all scheduled collections, even if it’s not full. This will also help prevent material from becoming too frozen to fall out.

• What goes in my black garbage, green organics and blue recycling cart?

  Do you know how to properly dispose of your waste? Use our What Goes Where searching tool. Type the name of an item and we'll tell you how.  A lot of your waste can be diverted from the landfill. It's easy!

  1. Go to okotoks.ca/WhatGoesWhere
  2. Type in the item you want to dispose of: candy wrapper, computer, paper, Styrofoam, paint, batteries etc.
  3. Hit the search button!

  You can also access the Waste Wizard directly from the Town's Mobile Waste App!

  Download the Mobile App

• Can I use bags or liners inside my cart?

  Organics (green cart)

  Contents can be placed loose inside the cart without using a bag or liner. A paper bag is optional.

  Animal waste and bedding are the exceptions: they must be placed in a paper bag inside the green cart. 

  Recycling (blue cart)

  Do NOT use a bag or liner. Contents must be loose, not bagged or bundled.

  The following items are exceptions:

  • Shredded paper must be placed in a transparent bag inside the blue cart.
  • Plastic bags, plastics wrap and bubble wrap must be bundled into one plastic bag and tied closed.

  Garbage (black cart)

  All garbage placed into the black cart must be bagged. 

• Why can't I bag recyclables?

  The material needs to be loose to be sorted by the machines. For the safety of workers, tied bags are assumed to be garbage and are never opened.

  Shredded paper and plastic bags are hand-sorted for recycling; transparent bags make them easy to identify and grab.

• Is it safe to put animal waste into the green cart?

  • Our program accepts pet waste and kitty litter in the green cart. During the composting process, the material is heated to temperatures at which any harmful bacteria is killed. Strict testing is conducted to ensure the compost is safe to use.
  • Animal waste must be in a paper bag before placing it in the green cart.
  • Please do not use plastic or biodegradable bags because these bags do not break down during the composting process and will reduce the quality of the finished compost.
• How do I prevent my garbage from smelling?

  • Put food, yard, and bagged pet waste in your organics cart—these are the main sources of odour. Weekly organics collection in warmer months helps keep smells in check.
  • Exception: Diapers belong in the garbage. To minimize odours, keep your cart lid closed and store dirty diapers in a sealed, leak-proof bag. This helps keep odors in and flies out, preventing maggots. 
• I am having Okotoks Waste app challenges - what do I do?

  Are you having issues finding your new collection schedule while using the online calendar or Okotoks Waste app? Contact us through our online contact form for support!