Curbside Cart Program

Green Compost Cart Tips

Only organics and certified compostable materials are accepted in the green compost carts. Separating your food scraps into your green cart can make a big difference. When food and yard waste is buried in the landfill, it doesn't break down or turn into compost/soil. 

Follow these tips for separating food scraps and using your green compost cart successfully:

• Visit the Composting page for a list of acceptable materials/items for the green compost cart
• Remove all packaging and non acceptable material
  • Such as garbage bags, berry containers, bread bags, cups etc.
• BPI certified compostable bags, newspaper or a paper bags can be used to line the compost cart
• Food scraps can be placed into the green compost cart loose or in BPI certified compostable bags
• Cut pizza boxes and corrugated cardboard into strips after removing all tape/stickers
• Dog waste and cat litter are not accepted 
• Close the lid of your cart completely
• Properly place cart out for pick-up before 7:00 am on collection day
• Return your cart to your property after pick-up

Black Garbage Cart Tips

• Bag all garbage to reduce odours and deter wildlife
• Dog waste and cat litter in bags is accepted in very small quantities if it is bagged separately
• Human waste and honey bucket waste is not accepted
• Close the lid of your cart completely
• Properly place cart out for pick-up before 7:00 am on collection day
• Return your cart to your property after pick-up

Cart Placement

The curbside cart program requires proper placement of your cart. View the following maps and diagram to know how to place your cart:

• Cart Placement (Regular and Back Alley)

  What to look out for, when you are leaving your cart(s) out for collection

• Cart Placement (Selected Cul-de-Sacs, Courts, and Crescents)

  If you live in a cul-de-sac, your cart(s) will have special placement.

Please note: Under the Solid Waste Management By-Law, garbage and compost carts can be placed at the appropriate collection location after 6:00 pm the night before collection or before 7:00 am the morning of collection to ensure that the cart is collected.

Cul-de-Sac Cart Placement

The City of Yellowknife has painted lines in cul-de-sacs to improve cart placement for the black and green carts. Residents are asked to place their carts inside one painted box with the wheels placed against the back of the box. Proper placement will help ensure that the contents of your cart are collected. Carts must be placed for pick-up prior to 7:00 am on collection day.

Cart Placement during Snow Removal 

The City of Yellowknife needs your cooperation to ensure snow removal and garbage/compost collection is a smooth process.

Streets must be clear of obstacles for operators to perform snow removal in the early hours of the morning. Signs are placed 24 hours in advance in areas of snow removal to inform residents that snow removal will be taking place. The City would also like to remind residents that once garbage carts have been emptied, they are to be returned to your property as soon as possible. This will ensure streets are clear for snow road removal and maintenance.

The City appreciates your assistance in this matter to ensure a smooth snow removal transition.

Check your Collection Schedule

The City provides curbside garbage and organics collection to over 4,000 properties. Use the "Calendar" tab on the app at the top of the page to find your collection schedule.

Find you pickup day

• Type your address in the search box
• Hit search

Print a calendar

• Type your address in the search box
• Select Get a calendar
• you can print a calendar; or
• Add an online calendar (Google, iCal, Outlook)

Sign up for free reminders

• Type your address in the search box
• Select Get a reminder
• Choose type of notice
• Add your contact details to be sent as weekly reminders

My garbage/compost cart wasn't emptied, who do I talk to?

My black garbage cart is always full. How do I reduce my garbage waste?

Green cart for the win! Utilize your green compost cart for all of the food waste from your household kitchen to reduce waste in your black garbage cart. Visit the Composting page for a list of acceptable materials/items for the green compost cart. 

Recycling plastics, glass, cardboard and paper is extremely important in reducing waste. The City of Yellowknife has provided endless access recycling blue bin stations throughout the City.

Effort to reuse and repurpose items as well as trying to avoid buying single-use items such as plastic cutlery, straws, plates and cups can make a huge difference in your garbage waste!

How can I get an extra set of garbage or compost carts at my residence?

For your residential household to be approved for a second set of garbage and compost carts there must be an inspected, approved and registered secondary suite or rental suite on the same property as the main household. 

If you have a suite that needs to be inspected for approval, please reach out to the City Hall.

What do I do with my electronics, batteries and other electrical items that plug-in?

The City of Yellowknife encourages everyone to participate in recycling electronics and electrical products at The Bottle Depot for free! The GNWT has provided a massive list of over 500 products that can be recycled free of charge which prevents the items from being put into the SWF landfill.