What goes in the green cart? Calgary compost guide

Food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard waste belong in the green cart. Some materials must be bagged, and packaging needs to be separated first.

Checked against City of Calgary sources on October 5, 2026

Food and food-soiled paper

Food scraps include meat, bones, dairy, eggshells, bread and cooked leftovers. Empty packaging before composting. Used paper towels, napkins and heavily food-soiled pizza boxes can also go in.

• Parchment paper is compostable; wax paper goes in the blue cart once wiped clean.
• Empty paper egg cartons belong in recycling.
• Ordinary paper coffee cups belong in recycling, not compost.

Cooking fats, oils and liquids

Let fat cool and solidify, or absorb oil with suitable contents of your kitchen compost. Add only what can be absorbed and use a closed compostable bag. Do not pour food, dairy or oil down a drain, and do not fill the cart with free liquid. Cooking oil preparation.

Pet waste: bagging is required

Pet waste and all kinds of kitty litter are accepted in the City green cart when contained in a securely closed paper bag or certified compostable bag. Regular plastic and bags labelled only biodegradable are not accepted. Hair also needs containment.

Leaves, branches and extra yard bags

Fill your green cart first. Cut branches smaller than 15 cm in diameter and 1.25 m long, and close the lid. Overflow can go in paper yard bags with rolled tops, each under 20 kg, at least 0.5 m beside the cart. The City may limit extra bags during busy periods.

Noxious weeds have separate disposal rules; do not assume every plant can be composted. Branch preparation · Large-load drop-off.

Collection in summer and winter

Green carts are collected weekly from April to October and every other week from November to March. The exact switch date depends on your route, so check your address for your dates once the City publishes the winter schedule.

Fall leaves and extra yard waste

Fill the green cart first, then use paper yard waste bags for the overflow. From September 18 to October 31, 2026, you can also take extra leaves, branches, plants (soil removed) and grass clippings to any City Eco Centre for free. Sod is charged at the regular rate. Eco Centre hours.

Keep these out of compost

Plastic packaging, diapers, wipes, waxed paper, synthetic corks and compostable plastic cutlery are not accepted. Food must be removed from packaging. Natural cork has a different rule: natural versus synthetic corks.

If your building uses a private collector

Confirm accepted materials with your building manager or collector, particularly pet waste and compostable packaging.