Waste Collection Rules and Cart Care
Curbside Waste Collection Rules
The Residential Solid Waste Management Bylaw describes the rules and regulations which must be followed for waste collection.
Failure to follow these regulations will result in:
- Carts being tagged with an explanation of what requirement is not being met.
- No cart collection.
General Rules for Waste Collection:
- Place carts and recycling out for collection by 7:00 a.m. on your waste collection day.
- Carts and recycling need to be placed a minimum of one metre (1 m), or three feet (3 ft) away from any obstruction, including other carts, vehicles, and basketball hoops (1 m from the edge of the hoop, not the pole). One metre is about the distance of an adult's arm-length.
- Only place acceptable materials inside carts and recycling bags.
Specific Rules for Carts:
- Place the cart facing forward into the center of the street, as indicated by the arrows on the lid, with the wheels against the curb.
- Never place carts underneath low hanging tree limbs, utility lines or basketball nets.
- Cart lids must be completely closed for collection. Do not overfill carts.
- Avoid stuffing or cramming material into the cart, as this can cause materials to become stuck. A cart that is 1/2 emptied usually means that the material inside the cart was not loosened when it was put out for collection. To prevent the material from sticking, please shake the cart or put a shovel down the side to loosen the material before pickup.
- There is no recollection for carts that only partially emptied because the material was crammed or frozen.
- All material for collection must be placed inside carts. Anything left outside of carts, such as garbage bags or large organic material will not be collected.
- For the safety of our staff and equipment, ensure carts weigh no more than 200 lbs (90 kg).
- Residential carts are not for renovations or landscaping projects. If large quantities of waste disposal is required, please visit a City of Edmonton Facility.
- Do not place any non-compostable material (such as plastic bags or metal) in the Green Organics Cart as it degrades the quality of compost and could result in a rejected collection.
Specific Rules for Blue Recycling Bags:
- Your Blue Recycling Bags must be placed on the curbside, not directly behind your carts.
- For the safety of our staff and equipment, ensure blue bags weigh no more than 33 lbs (15 kgs).
- There is no limit to the number of Blue Recycling Bags a household can set out.
- Only recyclable items can be put into Blue Bags. Items must be empty, clean and dry. No food or liquid residue.
- Corrugated cardboard must be flattened and not be greater than 1.0m x 0.6m in size.
Cart Care
The City of St. Albert provides Brown Garbage Carts and Green Organics Carts to all eligible households in St. Albert. Residents are responsible for the general upkeep of the carts; however, City staff will assist residents if maintenance or repairs are needed.
 | Carts are assigned to each house by a serial number. Record your cart's serial number (located on the side of the cart) to avoid confusing the carts with your neighbours'. |
| Report any necessary maintenance to City of St. Albert staff. To request a change in size, repair or replacement, please contact the City of St. Albert’s Utilities Services at 780-459-1520, Option 2, or complete the online request form at Change, Repair or Replace Carts. |
 | Please do not write, spray paint or permanent mark the carts. Households who damage the carts in this way may be required to reimburse the City for replacement carts. |
Cleaning Your Cart Tips
The City of St. Albert does not offer a cart cleaning service. Follow the tips below to help reduce odour and pests:
- Store your carts in shaded or covered areas
- Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda, powdered lime or bleach-free laundry detergent at the bottom of the cart
- Alternate between wet (food waste) and dry (leaf and yard waste) organic materials to layer your Green Organics Cart
- Wrap wet or smelly materials in paper bags, paper towel or newspapers
- Use compostable bags to line your food scraps container, before placing materials into the Green Organics Cart
- Clean out your refrigerator or freezer right before your waste collection day
- Keep the lid of your cart closed at all times
- Set your cart out on your waste collection day, even if it is not full
- Put essential oils like citronella and tea tree oil on your cart lids as they are natural insect repellents
- Regularly wash out your cart
Waste Collection FAQ's
What should I do with my garbage if my Brown Garbage Cart is tagged?
If your Brown Garbage Cart is tagged and you need to discard of your waste before your next collection day, you can purchase "Extra Garbage" tags from Servus Credit Union Place, Fountain Park Recreation Centre or St. Albert Place during business hours. These tags cost $2.25 each and can be placed on garbage bags and dropped off at the Mike Mitchell Recycling Depot. Please note that tags cannot be purchased on site. Tags with an expiry date are not accepted.
Please note: garbage bags can weigh a maximum of 50 pounds and can be a maximum size of 76 centimetres by 86 centimetres (30 inches by 34 inches). No large items, construction, or demolition materials accepted.
What should I do if my Green Organics Cart is tagged?
If your Green Organics Cart is tagged and you need to discard of your organics before your next collection day, you can bring accepted organic materials to the Compost Depot, located on Villeneuve Road. See more information here: https://stalbert.ca/home/waste/locations/compost-depot/
Where do I place my carts and Blue Recycling Bags on collection day?
Your Brown Garbage Cart and Green Organics Cart must be placed on the street next to or in front of your driveway by 7:00 a.m. on your waste collection day.
The carts need to be one metre (1 m), or three feet (3 ft) apart, with the wheels against the curb and the arrows facing forward, away from your house. Your Blue Recycling Bags must be placed on the curbside, not directly behind your carts. They should also be 1 m away from your carts and all other obstructions.
Where can I park on the street on waste collection days?
As long as your vehicle is one metre (1 m), or three feet (3 ft) away from the carts and not obstructing them, street parking will not be affected by collection.
Where do I put my carts in the winter?
During the winter, the carts will still need to be placed on the street on waste collection days. Winter pick-ups only present a problem on days when snow clearing equipment will be present in your area. If your street is being cleared of snow on your waste collection day, you must place your carts in the corner of your driveway, as in the diagram below.
Please refer to the snow clearing ads in the Citylights section of the Gazette or visit the Snow Removal page for information on snow clearing in your area.
I live in a cul-de-sac, where do I need to place my carts?
If you live in a cul-de-sac or crescent, please ensure that you are parked further than one metre (1 m), or three feet (3 ft) away from the carts on either side of you.
Related Pages
Last edited: November 4, 2025
