Multi-family food and yard waste requirements

Food and yard waste program requirements

1. Who - Decide who will provide collection service

You can hire a recycling collection company the same way you hire a garbage hauler, landscaper or other service provider. You have the flexibility to find a company to best meet your needs and the freedom to manage the contract as you see fit.

Check out the list of waste collection companies that service multi-family complexes.

The City of Calgary Commercial Collection offers a suite of garbage, recycling and food and yard waste collection services to address your collection needs. Learn more.

You can also take your building's recyclables to a recycling facility or to a Community Recycling Depot if you or one of your residents hauls the materials. For this option, it is the responsibility of the building owner or manager to make sure material is collected and recycled.

Please note: Professional recyclers and haulers are not allowed to use the community recycling depots per the Waste Bylaw.

2. What - Make sure you accept the right material

Your food and yard waste program must accept:

All food (raw and cooked)

Plate scrapings

Meat, fish, shellfish and bones

 

Fruits and vegetables

Bread, noodles, rice, beans and grains

 

Eggshells and dairy products

Jams, sauces, salad dressings and cooking oils

 

Pastries, cookies, cakes and muffins

Nuts, seeds, chips, popcorn and candy

Food soiled paper

Paper plates, paper towels and napkins

Coffee filters and tea bags

Yard waste*
*Your yard waste may be handled by a landscaping company. Ask your service provider how they dispose of yard waste to ensure it is composted and diverted from the landfill.

Leaves

Plants and weeds

 

Branches and prunings

Grass clippings and sod

3. Where - Decide where to store your material

You will need to find an on-site location to store your complex's food and yard waste. The location should be easy for your residents to use and have enough containers so that they are not overflowing between collection days.

There is a wide range of recommended layouts at multi-family complexes, so the look of this space will vary from building to building. You will not generate more garbage by separating food and yard waste. In fact, by diverting this material, the amount of garbage left over will be reduced.

We recommend speaking to a collection company who can help you find a suitable storage location.

4. How to inform your residents about your program

A food and yard waste diversion program is required at your multi-family complex. Residents need to be informed of the food and yard waste opportunity available to them, and how to use the program.

You will need to ensure that there is clear signage on the containers that indicates the materials that can be disposed.

This helps residents quickly understand which containers materials should go into. This can be in the form of a poster above the container(s) or with a decal applied to the container(s).

You will also need to inform your residents of the list of food and yard waste materials that are accepted in the program, and the proper method for preparing and sorting material for collection.

This information needs to be shared at least once per year, and when a new resident moves in. Find a letter template for residents on Multi-family Diversion Resources.

You can also check our Multi-family Program Tips for suggestions to help promote a food and yard waste program in your building.​

How will this be enforced?

The City believes in an education-first approach to bylaw enforcement. We will strive to provide information about the bylaw requirements so a recycling and/or food and yard waste diversion opportunity is offered to multi-family residents.

If further steps are not taken, building owners could be subject to an inspection by a Bylaw Enforcement Officer, who may issue a violation ticket or fine.