You rake them, we take them: Leaf & Pumpkin Composting starts September 27

Calgary, AB – Calgarians will lighten their garbage loads this fall by using The City’s Leaf & Pumpkin Composting Program. Bagged leaves and pumpkins will be accepted at drop-off locations throughout the city from September 27 to November 10.

 

Material collected through the program will be composted at City landfills.

 

“Leaves and pumpkins are too good to waste in the landfill,” says Superintendent of Resource Recovery Operations and Programs Darcy Cairns. “People who participate will help turn millions of kilograms of material into useful compost instead. This saves space and helps reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that occur when food and yard waste is buried.”

 

People can make an even greater impact by using paper yard waste bags, which can be composted along with the leaves and pumpkins.

The program is solely for residential use and only for leaves and pumpkins. People are asked not to include rocks, soil or sod.

 

 

“Composting leaves reduces the number of extra bags of garbage that are set out this time of year,” says Cairns. “That helps us stay on schedule and provide service to everyone without having to limit the number of extra bags we pick up.”

 

During periods of high volumes of garbage, such as the fall, The City will collect waste in black carts but may limit the number of extra garbage bags that are picked up to ensure all residences get service.

 

Residents should always fill their black carts first before setting out extra garbage bags. If extra bags are left behind, they should be stored until the next collection day.

 

For more information and a list of drop-off locations, visit Calgary.ca/waste or contact 311.

 

 

Onward/The City operates seasonal drop-off locations to collect and compost leaves and pumpkins. 80/20 Waste Reduction Plan:  By 2020, per capita waste sent to City of Calgary landfills is reduced from 2007 levels by 80 per cent.

 

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