Calgary, AB,
10
August
2017
|
08:52
America/Denver

Green Cart collection starts next week in the northwest

Nearly 100,000 homes in northwest Calgary will get to start using their green carts for the first time as Green Cart service expands to their quadrant next week.

As Green Cart service begins in the northwest, residents will also experience a change in their regular garbage routine. They are being reminded to consult the schedule that was included in their cart or go to calgary.ca/collection as their collection days have changed.

Starting the week of August 14:

  • Green and blue carts will be picked up every week on the same day.
  • Black carts will be picked once every two weeks on different day than the green and blue carts.

“One of the biggest adjustments for residents is going from one to two collection days a week, but we have tools to help them out,” explains Green Cart Implementation Leader Philippa Wagner. “We’ve seen a big uptake in residents signing up to receive free automated reminders about when to roll out their carts for collection. Residents find it really helpful and enjoy the convenience.”

Free collection day reminders are available through the Calgary Garbage Day app, or by text, email, phone call or downloadable calendars. These can be set up at calgary.ca/collection.

Green Cart program exceeding expectations in first month of service

Since the start of Green Cart collection in southwest Calgary last month, Calgarians have shown they are eager to embrace composting.

“In the first few weeks of the program, we’ve already begun composting over 2 million kilograms of food and yard waste. That’s 50 per cent more than we were anticipating,” says Wagner. “We’re thrilled with residents’ enthusiasm for the program. The majority are adapting well to this new routine and are quickly seeing how little garbage is left.”

Wagner credits some of the early success of the program to residents quickly understanding that all food and yard materials are accepted in the program. This will help ensure high quality compost by keeping contamination low.

All of the food and yard waste collected through the Green Cart program is processed at the newly built Calgary Composting Facility and will be turned into nutrient-rich Category A compost that can be used in gardens, parks and farms. The first batch of compost is scheduled to be ready in the fall. Some finished compost will be available to the community for free starting in spring 2018.

For more information about the Green Cart program, visit calgary.ca/greencart.

-30-