Okotoks moving to Bi-Weekly Garbage Collection

Starting May 1, garbage collection in Okotoks will change to bi-weekly pick up. Recycling and organics collection will remain on a weekly basis, with the exception of organics carts during winter.

Households can expect to receive a new 240 litre garbage cart delivered to their home within the next two months. These carts are double the size of the Town’s current standard cart, allowing all residents to have the same volume of garbage collected. With this change, residents will see a reduction in their bi-monthly utility bill.

"The Town heard residents’ affordability concerns,” said Jason London, Manager of Waste Solutions with the Town of Okotoks. “Reducing the frequency of garbage collection while still collecting the same amount of garbage from homes allows the Town to pass savings on to residents."

Garbage cart replacement is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 4 and will take approximately two months to complete. New carts will have a sticker on the lid displaying the household’s new pick up day and bi-weekly start date. For those that already have a 240 litre cart, Town crews will place a sticker on their existing cart lid. 

To support a smooth replacement process, residents should continue setting out their garbage carts weekly on their regular pick up day until May 2. Signs will be posted in each neighbourhood indicating their replacement week and carts should then be left out until replaced. This may take several days. 

In addition to financial savings for taxpayers, this service change also promotes greater use of recycling and composting options, which will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower our environmental footprint as a community.

Find more information, including new collection schedules, at Okotoks.ca/Waste.