As Calgarians prepare for the festive season, the City of Calgary is reminding residents of the proper way to dispose of holiday waste. With an influx of wrapping paper, boxes, and packaging expected after Christmas Day, knowing what goes where is key to effective recycling and waste reduction.
City Publishes Festive Waste Sorting Guide
To help residents navigate the post-holiday cleanup, the City of Calgary has published a detailed list on its official website. The guide clarifies which items belong in the blue recycling cart, the green organics cart, or the black garbage cart. This initiative aims to reduce contamination in the recycling stream and ensure that as much material as possible is diverted from the landfill.
The information was made public on December 17, 2025. The city's timely reminder comes just as many households begin their holiday celebrations and subsequent cleanups.
Navigating the Bins: Wrapping Paper, Boxes, and More
Not all festive packaging is created equal when it comes to disposal. A common point of confusion is gift wrap. According to the city's guidelines, plain paper wrapping can go in the blue recycling cart. However, foil, glittery, or plastic-coated wrapping paper must be placed in the black garbage cart, as these materials cannot be processed by recycling facilities.
Cardboard boxes from gifts and online deliveries should be flattened and placed in the blue cart. Styrofoam packaging and plastic air pillows, often used as protective filler in boxes, are not recyclable in Calgary's blue cart program and belong in the black garbage cart.
For the Christmas feast leftovers, remember that food scraps, soiled paper napkins, and wooden toothpicks can go into the green organics cart. Your natural Christmas tree will also be collected for composting through the city's seasonal program, but all decorations, tinsel, and stands must be removed first.
Why Proper Sorting Matters After the Holidays
The volume of waste generated in Canadian households increases significantly during the holiday period. Correctly sorting this material is crucial for the efficiency of Calgary's waste management system. Placing non-recyclable items in the blue cart can contaminate entire loads of otherwise good recyclables, sending them to the landfill instead.
By following the city's clear guidelines, residents directly contribute to environmental sustainability efforts. Proper recycling conserves resources, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes the city's overall environmental footprint during a high-waste season.
Calgarians are encouraged to bookmark the city's waste and recycling webpage or download the Calgary Garbage Day app for quick reference when sorting their holiday debris. Taking a few extra moments to sort correctly ensures Calgary's holiday season is merry, bright, and green.
