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Waste & Recycling

Show All Answers

1. My cart wasn't collected. What do I do?

If your cart was not collected please call the Waste & Recycling Hotline at 403-851-2277.  If you receive a voice message, please leave your name, address, colour of cart missed and the time your cart was put out for collection.  We will call you back during regular office hours (Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm excluding statutory holidays).  

2. What time do I need to put out my carts for collection?

Carts must be out at the curb no later than 7am on your collection day. Roll your carts back in by 7pm.

3. When is my waste, recycling and organics collection day?

Please see the collection calendar and map page.  Your zone calendar can be viewed and printed from there.

4. What if my regularly scheduled collection day falls on a statutory holiday?

There are only two days we don't collect, Christmas Day and New Years Day. If your collection falls on either of these days, check your zone calendar or our Eco Centre Facebook page to learn what day they will be collecting to make up for your missed collection day. All other holidays, waste, recycling and organics will be picked up as scheduled.

5. When I move, do I take my carts with me?

No.  Carts are the property of the Town of Cochrane and are assigned to residences rather than people. Please do not take your carts with you when you move. If you need carts at your new residence, call the Waste and Recycling Hotline at 403-851-2277.

6. I just moved into a newly built home and there are no carts, how do I get them delivered?

Call the Waste and Recycling Hotline at 403-851-2277 and we’ll help.

7. Where do I store my carts?

Where you store your cart is up to you as long as you don’t leave it on the street. Residents with front street collection will find it easy to store the carts in their garage, on their front deck, or along the side of their house. Residents with alley collection can store their carts in their garage or against their back fence. Choose the storage location that works best for you. Please ensure your carts do not impede traffic and are not stored in a way that may be obtrusive or unsightly to your neighbours.  Carts need to be rolled out by 7am on your collection day and rolled back in by 7pm.  

8. What if my cart goes missing?

If your cart is damaged or missing, call the Waste and Recycling Hotline at 403-851-2277 immediately.  

Damaged carts are repaired or replaced by our Eco Centre team within a week of your call.    

Missing carts generally find their way back to the resident within a week.  If your cart has been missing for over a week, a replacement cart will be issued at the expense of the property owner.  

9. Why is there a limit on curbside residential waste collection?

The limit on curbside residential waste collection in Cochrane promotes waste diversion and gives the Town of Cochrane the ability to control waste disposal costs. The limit on curbside residential waste collection is one 120L waste cart per household per week.

10. What if I have more waste than what fits in the waste cart?

If you have excess waste you have 3 options: 

1. Purchase Town of Cochrane  excess waste bags, put your waste in the bags and place it beside your waste cart on your collection day. Bags can be purchased at the Cochrane RancheHouse, Operational Facilities or at the Cochrane Eco Centre during regular operational hours for $3 each. 

2. The Cochrane Eco Centre (50 Griffin Industrial Point) accepts clear bagged household waste for $3/bag.  All recycling and organics must be removed prior to disposal. 

3. If you have excess waste on a regular basis you can make arrangements for an additional waste cart; a set up fee and an additional monthly charge will apply.  Please call the Waste and Recycling Hotline at 403-851-2277 for details.

11. Why do I have to bag my waste?

All waste must be bagged and tied inside the waste collection cart. Residents are welcome to use kitchen catchers or reuse old grocery bags to contain their waste within the cart; you are not limited to using standard black garbage bags. Waste is bagged so the truck operator can easily and safely collect any waste that misses the hopper during the tip.

12. I had set my cart out for collection and the birds have scattered it all over, what should I do?

It is the responsibility of the resident to ensure waste put out for collection is bagged and fits inside the cart with the lid closed so that it is impervious to weather, animals and birds. Please clean up the mess, bag the waste and ensure your cart lid is closed.

13. What CAN I put in my waste cart?

Use your waste cart for bagged household waste such as:

• Toys made of mixed materials that you cannot separate
• Paint soaked brushes, container inserts, rollers and rags, metal hangers
• Straws, coffee cup lids, pop and water bottle lids, gum, candy wrappers
• Air fresheners, candles, crayons, markers, twine, twist-ties, yarn
• Dental floss, deodorant, contact lenses, razors, diapers, wipes, ointment tubes
• Furnace filters, fuses, dryer sheets, insulation, light bulbs (incandescent)
• Magnets, photos, CD's and DVD's, mirrors, paper clips, stickers, tarps
• Latex gloves, leather, pillows, ropes, rubber bands, scouring pads, sponges

14. What items cannot be put in the waste cart?

Don't put the following items out for waste collection:

• Hazardous waste
• Biomedical waste
• Commercial, trade or industrial waste
• Dead animals
• Construction, renovation or demolition waste
• Gas/propane liquids or any other liquid based petroleum product
• Rocks
• Automobile waste including automobile parts, tires and batteries
• Engine oil/oil filters
• Building materials and furniture
• Any recyclable material
• Any organic material
• Waste that is unsafe for the collector to access or handle
• Waste that could cause environmental impairment

For more information call the Waste & Recycling Hotline at 403-851-2277.

15. What can I put in my recycling cart?

The following is a brief list of what goes into the blue cart, please check the guide or call 403-851-2277 if you have a specific question about an item.

• Plastic containers
• Glass food jars even if they are broken (paper label can be left on)
• Metal lids
• Tin and aluminium
• Cardboard
• Mixed paper
• Newspaper (please remove any elastics or plastic bags
• Beverage containers
• Plastic bags and soft plastics bagged together and tied
• Shredded paper bagged and tied
• Newspaper
• Takeout containers and cups that are clean and dry

All materials should be clean and free of debris. Please keep recycled items loose in carts (do not bag recyclables).

16. Coffee cups. Where do I put them?

Paper coffee cups go into the organics cart. Styrofoam coffee cups go to the Eco Centre.  Mixed material coffee cups go into the garbage.  

Plastic coffee cup lids, straws and stoppers go into the waste cart. 

Clean, dry coffee cup warmers go into the recycling cart. 

As you can see it's best to use a re-usage mug.  Many local coffee shops provide discounts when you bring your own cup!

17. What if I have more recycling than fits in the recycling cart?

Excess recycling can be delivered directly to the Eco Centre during operational hours.  Alternatively, if you have excess recycling on a regular basis you can make arrangements for an additional recycling cart; a one time delivery fee and monthly collection fee will apply. Please call the Waste and Recycling Hotline at 403-851-2277 for details.

18. What items go in the organics cart?

The green cart does not require the use of bags, however if you are using bags, they must be certified compostable.  Biodegradable bags are not permitted.  

• Food scraps like coffee grounds, dairy products, meat, fish bones, nuts and shells, fruit, vegetables, rotten food, expired condiments, etc.
• Plants and yard waste like grass clippings, weeds, flowers, leaves, dirt, soil and sod up to 10kg, branches less than 6" diameter and 36" long, etc.
• Paper products that touched food like flour and sugar bags, greasy pizza boxes, paper towel, tissues and napkins, paper muffin wrappers, etc.
• Natural Fibers like hair, nail clippings, wooden toothpicks, shopsticks, popsicle sticks, cotton balls, dryer lint, sawdust, etc. 
• Pet products like animal bedding, bird seed, kitty litter, pet food, pet fur, feathers and pet waste in certified compostable bags tied closed.

19. What can I do with my Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene)?

Cochrane residents can take their expanded polystyrene to the Eco Centre for recycling.  We accept the following types of foam: 

•Clean white packing foam 

•Packing foam peanuts (bagged) 

•Foam servingware: cups, plates, take out containers, meat trays and egg cartons

•No spray foam, textile or furniture foam (i.e. pillows, mattress foam)

•Please ensure that all styrofoam is clean and free of tape, labels and wrap.

20. I have appliances to dispose of, where can I take them?

The Town of Cochrane Eco Centre, located at 50 Griffin Industrial Point accepts;

Fridges, freezers and water coolers for a $40 fee each.  

Stoves, washers, dryers and dishwashers for a $30 fee each.

Microwaves and hot water tanks for a $15 fee each.

Home Reno Heaven in Cochrane also accepts working appliances less than 10 years old at 136 Charlesworth Avenue.  Call them at 403-851-1117.

21. Where is the bottle depot located?

Cochrane Bottle Depot
205 Railway Street East.   Phone: 403-932-4399.

22. What fees are associated with curbside collection services in Cochrane?

Like most municipalities, the Town of Cochrane collects fees from residents and businesses in order to finance waste, recycling and organics collection services. These rates are adjusted as required to reflect the costs associated with offering curbside collection services. Currently, all households pay $20.55 /month.  All households and businesses in Cochrane also pay an Eco Centre fee of $5.00 /month for the operation of the Town of Cochrane Eco Centre and Special Waste Programming.