Household waste is collected weekly. To avoid missing your collection day, carts should be set out at the curb by 7 a.m. They must be removed from the curb and placed back on your property no later than 9 p.m. Household waste is collected using the Automated Waste Collection System. Carts are placed at the curb and emptied into a waste collection vehicle using a specialized hydraulic arm attached to the vehicle. 

For this reason, only the black/grey waste carts provided by the City of Cold Lake may be used for waste collection. Loose garbage bags or other loose items outside the cart will not be collected. 

Understanding the Automated Waste Cart Collection System:

• Because our waste collection vehicles use a large hydraulic arm to pick up and empty your cart, please leave at least one (1) metre of free space on all sides (vehicles, recycling bins, trees, etc.) and ensure there are no obstructions at least three (3) metres above the cart.
• Waste must be bagged before it is placed in your cart.
• Your cart is associated with your address, not with you. If you move, leave the cart at your old residence and use the cart at your new address. If there is no cart at your new address, call the Infrastructure Services department at 780-594-4496.
• Don't overfill your cart. The lid must fully close and the contents must be able to slide out when the cart is tipped over. Carts crammed full or with the lid not securely closed may not be collected.
• Carts are provided by, and remain the property of the City of Cold Lake. City-provided waste carts should not be used for anything other than waste collection.

Was your garbage not collected?

Our waste management crews work hard to make sure waste, recycling and organics are collected promptly and according to schedule. However, external factors sometimes prevent that from happening. Severe weather, mechanical issues with collection vehicles, large snow accumulation, road construction and other factors may cause collection to be delayed. If your waste was not collected on your scheduled collection day:

1. Check this website and our Facebook and Twitter feeds to see if collection is delayed in your neighbourhood. Severely cold weather can sometimes cause the hydraulics on the collection vehicles to seize up or malfunction, delaying collection. If collection is delayed due to weather, leave your cart at the curb as usual and we will get to it as soon as possible (which can sometimes be the following day.)
2. Ensure your cart and waste bins are at the curb by 7 a.m. Our collection route begins at 7 a.m. and crews are unable to backtrack to collect waste that was set out too late.
3. Take a close look at this Infographic to make sure your cart was set out correctly for our crews to collect. If carts are not properly placed at the curb for the Automated Waste Cart Collection System and the operator is unable to access them, they cannot be collected.
4. If none of the above are applicable, call Infrastructure Services at 780-594-4496 or email infrastructure@coldlake.com and we will investigate. All waste collection vehicles are equipped with cameras and GPS recorders; we will download the data and video from the vehicle's route to verify the circumstances. If your collection was missed due to operator error or oversight, we will dispatch a collection vehicle to your address. If your waste was not collected due to #2 or #3 above, you'll have to wait until next collection day, or take your waste to the Regional Waste Transfer Station. 

IMPORTANT:
If your regular collection day falls on the same day as residential snow plowing, street sweeping, or road construction, place your cart/materials at the curb as usual. Our Waste Collection crews will coordinate with Roads or Construction crews to ensure both jobs are completed.

Household Hazardous Waste

Household waste considered hazardous is not collected at the curb and must be disposed of at the Regional Waste Transfer Station. It can be dropped off for free (with some exceptions) year round.

The following toxic waste items should NOT be placed in your household waste:

• Aerosol cans containing hazardous substances
• Ammonia
• Automotive batteries
• BBQ starters
• Brake and transmission fluid
• Butane refills
• Car waxes and polishes
• Degreasers
• Disinfectants
• Corrosive cleaners (bleach, drain cleaners, toilet and oven cleaners, mildew removers)
• Electronics
• Fabric softeners
• Fire extinguishers 
• Gasoline, diesel fuel and kerosene
• Glue
• Hair sprays (aerosols)
• Laundry starch and stain removers
• Lighter fluid
• Lye
• Nail polish and remover
• Pesticides, insecticides and herbicides
• Rug and upholstery cleaners
• Rust removers
• Shoe polish
• Solvents, varnishes and thinners
• Spa and pool chemicals
• Weed killers
• Wood preservatives