Recycling in the RMWB
Curbside recycling services are provided to homes in Fort McMurray, Draper, Saprae Creek Estates, Gregoire Lake Estates, and Anzac. Curbside collection uses a three bin system: black for garbage - light blue for paper and cardboard - and dark blue for tin and plastic. If you live in Conklin or Janvier, you can bring your recycling to the local waste transfer stations, it’s free. In Fort Chipewyan, you can use the landfill for recycling at no cost. Find more information about rural garbage and recycling collections on the rural collections page. Fort McMurray residents can also use six recycling depots, open 24/7 in Fort McMurray, to drop off accepted items.📍 View depot locations »
🚫 Have items that don’t belong in your curbside bins?
Most items can be disposed of at the landfill for no cost or a small fee. There are also seasonal waste programs available to help you get rid of items, such as big bin events, pet waste drop-off, e-waste roundup and more. Find more information at rmwb.ca/garbage.
🗓️ Curbside collection calendar
Check the collections calendar to see which day your garbage and recycling will be picked up.
Jump to Section
What Goes Where?
Recycling right in the RMWB starts with knowing what goes where. Maximize recycling efforts and dispose of items properly using your black bin, light blue bin, or dark blue bin. Need help sorting an item? The Online Sorting Tool can point you in the right direction.
Black Bin | Light Blue Bin | Dark Blue Bin |
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WASTE & NON-RECYCABLESBag it Right, Bin it Tight!Not everything belongs in the garbage — check the online sorting tool to see where it should go. |
PAPER & CARDBOARDEmpty, Stack and RecycleThere’s more! Check the online tool to explore all recyclable items. |
TIN & PLASTICEmpty, Rinse and RecycleThere’s more! Check the online tool to explore all recyclable items. |
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✅ Yes please!
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✅ Yes please!
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✅ Yes please!
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❌ No thanks!
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❌ No thanks!
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❌ No thanks!
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| Garbage needs to be bagged in your bin. | Recycables must be loose. |
Recycables must be loose. |
Common Recycling Questions
| Is the material I recycle actually being recycled? |
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Yes. All recycling equipment and services in the RMWB are fully operational. Properly sorted and prepared recyclables are sent to producers to be recycled and reused. ⚠️ However, if recycling is contaminated with food, garbage, or non-recyclable items, it can’t be processed and may be sent to the landfill instead. |
| Is glass recycled? |
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Yes — but not through curbside collection. Glass bottles and containers can be reused, but they must be taken to a recycling depot or dropped off at the landfill — both options are free of charge. ⚠️ Do not put glass in your curbside bins, it can contaminate the entire load rendering materials unsuitable for recycling and create safety risks for workers who sort recycling by hand. |
| Do I need to clean my recyclables before they go in my bins? |
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Yes — but they don’t need to be spotless.
Properly prepared recyclables are more likely to be reused. If bins are contaminated with food or garbage, it can prevent your recycling — and your neighbours’ — from being collected and recycled. |
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What happens to our recycling? |
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First, collection teams check recycling bins for contamination before they’re picked up. If a bin contains too many non-recyclable items, it may be left behind or tagged. After pickup, your recycling is taken to the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), where it’s sorted by hand on conveyor belts. Contaminated or incorrect items are removed and sent to the landfill. The clean, sorted recyclables are compacted into large bales and shipped to producers, who recycle the materials into new products. Thanks to Alberta’s new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, producers are now responsible for processing recycling, helping ensure more materials are reused through the circular economy. |
| My curbside collection bin is damaged, how can I get it fixed? |
| Contact Pulse at 780-743-7000 or online at rmwb.ca/pulse and the collection teams will follow up directly with you to repair or replace your damaged bin. |
| What is the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) program? |
| The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) shifts more responsibility for end-of-life products to the producer and away from local governments and taxpayers. The regulatory change implemented by the Government of Alberta came into effect April 1, 2025 and will encourage companies to find innovate ways to recycle more materials and produce less packaging waste. |
| Are there plans for a compost program? |
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The RMWB is exploring the possibility of a compost and organic waste program. It’s identified as a future goal in the Solid Waste Services Master Plan and is something many residents have asked for. Planning work is ongoing as the Municipality looks at options that best meet the needs of the region. |
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What should I do with pet waste? |
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Pet waste should never go in your recycling bin, it contaminates other materials in the curbside collections trucks and poses serious health and safety risks to the staff who sort recyclables by hand. To dispose of pet waste properly, you have a few options:
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