Litter Concerns: Reducing Waste

Leaving litter, garbage, refuse or other waste material on private or public property makes the city look dirty and unhealthy.

You cannot leave any garbage, litter, or other waste in a public place except in a waste can or bin. Property owners are also required to keep the sidewalk or boulevard beside their property clean.

Report a Concern

You can call 311 or use their online app to report a bylaw concern

Reducing your Waste in Public: What you can Do

Pack a Litterless Picnic

• When visiting Edmonton’s parks for a picnic or gathering, reduce the amount of waste you create by opting for reusable items such as reusable bags, plates, utensils and cups
• Consider bringing your food in reusable containers, using cloth napkins and bringing foods that don't have packaging
• Use the sorting stations at Edmonton parks for the waste you do create

Sorting Right – On the Go!

• It’s just as important to sort right on the go! Incorrect sorting contaminates our three streams of collection in parks.
• Contamination in the food scraps waste stream will lower the quality of compost we can make, and contamination in the recycling stream can result in some recyclable items going to the landfill. It also results in higher processing costs.
• Many of Edmonton’s parks now include food scrap containers in addition to garbage and recycling containers.

Capital City Cleanup

Capital City Cleanup expanded its focus in 2008 to include not only litter reduction and prevention but graffiti eradication as well. The program was developed by the City of Edmonton to help keep our city clean and attractive.

Through various partnerships we continue to showcase Edmonton as Alberta's Capital City through this concerted effort.

Waste Sorting in the Public Space

As part of the Corporate Waste Transformation project, the City of Edmonton is implementing sustainable waste management practices in City-owned and operated facilities and major outdoor attractions.

A three-stream waste sorting program (recycling, food scraps and garbage) will be in place in 240 facilities, major outdoor attractions and amenities by the end of 2021.