Calgary disposal answer
Personal hygiene products: black cart
Black cart — Garbage
Tampons, pads, wipes, cotton balls, cotton swabs and similar hygiene products go in the black cart, even if labelled biodegradable or compostable.
How to prepare it
- Wrap used tampons and pads in toilet paper or a small garbage bag before putting them in the black cart.
- Applicators, paper or plastic, and the backing strips from liners go in the garbage with the product.
- Never flush tampons, pads, cotton swabs or wipes, including wipes sold as flushable.
- Bag incontinence pads, underpads and protective underwear before they go in the black cart.
Good to know
None of these items belong in the green cart. The City explains that hygiene products often mix natural and synthetic fibres or plastic, or carry makeup and cleaning chemicals, so they would spoil the compost. They are also banned from the blue cart. Makeup, petroleum jelly, condoms, cosmetic wipes and shower puffs follow the same garbage rule.
Similar items
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