Waste & Recycling | Town of Coaldale

Coaldale handles its solid waste disposal through a curbside garbage, recycling & composting pickup service. Each household is assigned one large black garbage container for garbage, one large blue recycling container for recycling, and one large green container for composting.

Pickup Schedules

Download the Town of Coaldale Solid Waste Wizard app to search for your personalized collection calendar, sign up for weekly reminders, and find answers to common waste-related questions.

Search 'Coaldale Waste Companion' in Google Play or Apple Store to download the mobile app now!

Holiday Pickup Schedule

Garbage, recycling & composting collection is only re-scheduled on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Please refer to each year's individual calendar as holiday pick-up scheduling may change year by year. All other holidays during the year the collection days stay on the regular schedule.

Black Bins, Blue Bins, Green Bins, and Yard Waste

What CAN go in my black bin?
- Regular Bagged household garbage, furnace and water filters, garden hoses
- Diapers and baby wipes, bandages, dental floss, razors, razors toothbrushes, toothpaste, and twist ties
- Non-recyclable packaging, bows, ribbons, Christmas ornaments, hangers (metal and plastic)
- Mixed material items (e.g., broken toys containing metal, plastic, rubber, cloth) that can’t be separated
- Balloons, chalk, crayons, felt, gum, tape, photos, chip bags, candy wrappers, plastic straws and cutlery.
What CAN'T go in my black bin?
- Anything that can go in either your blue or green bin (see below)
What CAN go in my blue bin?
Paper & cardboard
- Corrugated boxes (including pizza boxes), boxboard (e.g., cereal/tissue/shoe boxes), paper bags, egg cartons
- Gable-top and aseptic drink cartons (e.g., milk, juice)
- Newspapers, magazines, catalogues, flyers, office paper, envelopes, greeting cards
- Paper cups, plates, bowls; gift wrap/boxes and tissue paper (avoid glitter/foil if possible)
Rigid plastics
- Bottles, jugs, jars (detergent, shampoo, condiments, etc.)
- Tubs and lids, yogurt/food containers, clamshells, blister packs, trays
- Take-out containers, cups/plates/bowls, straws, stir sticks, utensils
- Polystyrene/foam items: meat trays, cups, packing peanuts, cushion packaging
- Pails, plastic hangers from stores, garden pots/seedling trays
Flexible plastics (plastic bags & film)
- Carry-out/shopping bags; bread, produce, newspaper/flyer and dry-cleaning bags
- Outer wrap over beverage cases, toilet paper/towelling, furniture/electronics; shrink wrap
- Stand-up pouches; chip/snack wrappers; cereal liners; bubble wrap and bubble mailers
- Recycling bags (“blue bags”) used to contain recycling
Metal
- Food and pet-food cans; lids and closures
- Aluminum foil, pie plates, cooking trays; cookie/tea/coffee tins
- Aerosol cans (food, hygiene, household products)
Glass
- Food jars and bottles (e.g., pickles, sauces, jams)
- Bottles for condiments, cosmetics, olive oil, vinegar, prescriptions (glass)
What CAN'T go in my blue bin?
- Compostable/“biodegradable” plastics (cups, utensils, coffee pods, bags labeled compostable)
- Plastic wrap/bags used at home for food handling (cling wrap, sandwich/freezer bags used by households)—not considered packaging under the program
- Garbage or compost bags (bags used to contain waste/organics)
- Health & hygiene items (diapers, feminine hygiene products, medical supplies like masks/gloves/bandages)
- Unsanitary paper (toilet paper, paper towel, napkins, wipes, cotton swabs)
- Balloons, ribbons, decorative bows; costume items/glitter/keepsakes
- Durable/reusable containers meant to last 5+ years (reusable water bottles/food containers, CD/DVD or power-tool cases, electronics carrying cases, canning jars)
- Non-PPP materials (wood pallets/crates, cloth/burlap/jute/organza bags, butcher’s string)
- Pressurized cylinders (other than standard household aerosols)
- Materials covered by other programs: paint/lubricating-oil containers, and pesticide/corrosive/flammable/toxic product containers — take these to the appropriate drop-off/depot, not the recycling cart.
For more detailed information about what can and can't go in your blue bin, please read the Alberta Recycling Management Authority's PPP Material Type Guide.
What CAN go in my green bin?
Food waste
- Fruit and vegetables (remove stickers)
- Meat, poultry, fish & bones
- Dairy products
- Bread, cereals, grains, pasta, rice, flour
- Condiments, sauces, spreads, herbs & spices
- Nuts, seeds, pits, candy, popcorn, gum
- Coffee grounds & filters, tea bags
- Oils, fats, grease
Food-soiled paper
- Paper towels, tissues, napkins
- Soiled paper plates, cups, bowls
- Cardboard (pizza boxes, flour/sugar bags)
- Paper bags and coffee filters
Yard & pet waste
- Leaves, grass clippings, branches
- Houseplants & flowers
- Animal bedding
- Cat/dog litter & pet waste
- Dirt & sod (minimal amounts)
- Feathers, hair
Other compostables
- Dryer lint & sheets
- Cotton balls & string
- Woodchips, sawdust
- Popsicle sticks, kabob skewers
What CAN'T go in my green bin?
- Diapers, wipes, sanitary products
- Plastic bags, plastic film, string, rope
- “Compostable” or “biodegradable” plastics (bags, liners, cups, plates, utensils)
- Food or beverage packaging
- Aluminum foil
- Glass
- Painted or treated wood
- Foam/styrofoam products
Coaldale’s compost is transported to a processing facility in Taber. Due to industry-wide changes, this facility no longer accepts plastic bags labeled as “compostable” or "biodegradable". ALL BAGS MUST BE 100% PAPER OR FIBRE MATERIALS. To learn more, read the Curbside Composting FAQs and watch the Curbside Composting video:
Winter Composting Pickup
In order to accommodate yard-waste, the composting carts will be picked up weekly from March until November. From December through February, the composting carts will be picked up bi-weekly.
Coaldale residents can dispose of green waste at the Coaldale Transfer Station, located just off Highway 845 on Range Road 201A.

Image

Transfer Station hours are as follows:
- Tuesday and Wednesday - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Saturday - 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Accepted materials include:
- plants and flowers;
- landscape vegetation;
- vegetative garden waste;
- leaves and grass clippings;
- houseplants; and
- shrub clippings and tree branches under 3" diameter and 6' long.
Materials not accepted include:
- garbage;
- construction materials; and
- plastic or non-biodegradable bags.
Please note: residents will be required to sign in prior to dumping at the site.

Landfill Disposal Program

Town of Coaldale residents who receive solid waste services from the Town are eligible to participate in the the Town's Free Landfill Disposal Program.

This program provides eligible residents up to 3 coupons per residence per year for the free disposal of up to 250 kilograms of residential waste at the City of Lethbridge landfill on any day it is open during year.

Eligible residents must pick up their coupons from the Town Office and present it at the City of Lethbridge landfill at time of disposal. The coupons will only be issued to the registered owner of the property and cannot be issued to a renter.

Please note: Dump coupons cannot be used for hazardous materials. These materials can be disposed of at the Lethbridge Landfill for a fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

If your bins are collected from the street, please place them on the roadway with the wheels positioned against the curb and the cart facing forward. For alley collection, ensure that the arrows on the carts are directed into the alley.
Bins must be positioned a minimum of 1 foot (0.3 metres) apart from one another, and at least 1 foot (0.3 metres) away from any obstruction directly behind them. In addition, carts should be placed at least 3 feet (1 metre) away from any lateral obstructions such as parked vehicles, utility poles, or mailboxes, and must have a minimum overhead clearance of 10 feet (3 metres).
During winter months, please do not place carts behind or on top of snowbanks. Ensure that they remain clearly visible and easily accessible for collection.
To ensure materials can be collected and processed efficiently:
- Break down and flatten cardboard boxes as well as large cans and plastic containers.
- Empty and rinse all containers to remove food or liquid residue.
- Place items loose in your recycling cart—do not bag your recycling.
Proper preparation helps keep the recycling stream clean, reduces contamination, and ensures that more materials can be successfully recycled.
All household waste must be contained within your designated garbage cart, and the cart lid must be fully closed. No excess waste placed beside the cart will be collected.
Please also note:
- The container must not exceed a weight of 100 kilograms (220 pounds).
- Only waste inside the cart, with the lid closed, will be accepted.
This ensures safe collection, protects equipment, and keeps our community clean and orderly.
Paints, pesticides, propane tanks, batteries, syringes, used motor oil, fluorescent tubes/compact bulbs and many cleaning products are just some examples of household hazardous waste. These items contain toxic ingredients and should be used and disposed of with caution. Do not place them out for regular garbage pick-up. Do not pour motor oil, paints or solvents down your drain or into sewers.