What Goes Where?

The following items can be placed in the black bin: 

• Household waste that can't be recycled
• All items contaminated with food. This includes contaminated paper, cardboard and plastic
• All film that has wrapped food
• Plastic bags and bubble wrap
• Glass containers
• Broken glass*
• Non-medical sharp objects*
• Styrofoam
• Disposable masks and gloves

*Must be wrapped up or placed inside of a closed plastic container before being placed inside garbage bag

Preparing Items: 

• All material must be bagged. No loose items. Please DO NOT include hazardous household waste, electronic waste, hot ashes or medical sharp items (needles, syringes etc).
• Each bin should not have a total weight of more than 36 kgs (80 lbs.) with the lid closed. Garbage and recycling placed outside or on top of bins will not be taken.

The following items can be placed in the light blue bin: 

• Paper and cardboard products. This includes:
  • newspapers and flyers
  • mixed paper
  • non-waxed magazines
  • paper bags and paper packaging
  • phone books
  • boxboard
  • cardboard egg cartons and takeout trays
  • envelopes
  • corrugated cardboard

Preparing Items: 

• Boxes must be emptied and should be broken down. Please ensure you remove all food, plastic, styrofoam, foil and metals.  
• Each bin should not have a total weight of more than 36 kgs (80 lbs.) with the lid closed. Garbage and recycling placed outside or on top of bins will not be taken.

The following items can be placed in the light blue bin: 

• Containers and packaging products. This includes:
  • plastic containers, jugs and bottles labelled 1-7
  • Tetra packs
  • aluminum, tin and steel cans
  • aluminum foil
  • foil drink packs

Preparing Items: 

• Containers, jugs, bottles and cans must be rinsed clean and free of residue. Items that are contaminated with food must be sent to the landfill for disposal.
• No bulky or oversized items or glass containers. 
• Each bin should not have a total weight of more than 36 kgs (80 lbs.) with the lid closed. Garbage and recycling placed outside or on top of bins will not be taken.

Household Cleaning Products:

• Bleach, ammonia, lye
• Cleaning solvents and spot removers
• Disinfectants
• Drain, toilet, and window cleaners
• Hot tub and swimming pool chemicals
• Oven cleaners
• Metal polish
• Turpentine, varnish, lacquers
• Septic tank cleaners
• Furniture polish and waxes
• Shoe polish

Gardening and Pest Control Products:

• Insecticides and pesticides (including ant and rodent poison)
• Flea powder
• Fungicides and herbicides (including weed killer)
• Fertilizer
• Wood preservatives 

Beauty Products:

• Nail polish and remover
• Hair colour and perm solutions
• Aerosols (including hairspray)

Hobby Products:

• Artist paint, inks, colourants, tints
• Paint thinners and strippers 
• Photographic chemicals 

Automotive Products:

• Antifreeze
• Brake and transmission fluid
• Gasoline
• Motor oil and empty containers 
• Rust inhibitors/removers
• Car waxes and polishes (solvent and water based)
• Non-aerosol automotive paints
• Auto body filler 
• Solvents

Other Products:

• Fluorescent light tubes and compact fluorescent lightbulbs
• Water proofers
• Glues and cements  
• Butane and kerosene
• Mercury thermometers
• Rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries
• Smoke detectors 

• Small home appliances
• Audio and video equipment
• Cell phones and other wireless devices
• Gaming equipment
• Toys
• Musical instruments
• Power tools
• Computers and laptops
• Printers, copiers, fax machines and scanners

What items are not acceptable?

The following items cannot be brought to the landfill for disposal, or placed out for curbside collection:

• Explosives and ammunition (for disposal call the Wood Buffalo RCMP at 780-788-4000)
• Radioactive waste (for disposal contact the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in Calgary at 403-292-5181)
• Compressed gas cylinders other than propane (medi-gas, helium, freon)- contact the manufacturer for disposal options
• Old drugs and medications- return unused or expired medicine to your pharmacist for disposal

Each year, the municipality hosts the Household Hazardous Waste Roundup. This free service is intended to help residents conveniently dispose of household hazardous and electronic waste in an environmentally responsible way.

Prior to the event, residents will be invited to bring their hazardous and electronic waste to a convenient drop-off location within the Urban Service Area.

Please subscribe to this page to be notified when the next roundup is scheduled.

Residents are also able to take household quantities of hazardous materials and electronic waste to the landfill free of charge.

• The landfill sells green cones, which allow you to safely compost animal waste. Although animal waste compost can't be used for edible gardens, it can be safely used to fertilize trees and shrubs.

Off-leash dog parks

• There are four off-leash dog parks across Fort McMurray specifically designed for your furry friends. Please bring bags from home and cleanup after your dog. Due to COVID-19, the bags normally provided at off-leash dog parks are temporarily unavailable.