By Hillhurst Sunnyside Resident Jocelyn

Waste and recycling doesn’t receive a lot of love on the “Most Liveable Cities” list, but there’s a lot to be proud of after those carts are emptied into the truck. Calgary has set an ambitious goal: To divert 70 percent of waste from landfill by 2025! Here are some small things we can all do now to reduce our household waste and take full advantage of the resources in Calgary.

1. Compost More

Calgary’s green cart system is to waste management what the Central Library is to architecture. A critical piece of infrastructure that makes our city unique! 50% of residential waste has been diverted from landfill since the introduction of the green cart. Watch this video to learn how it works.

All items marked compostable should not go in your green bin. The city only accepts bags with certification, broadly available in Calgary. Be especially skeptical of biodegradable or bioplastics made from bamboo or sugarcane. These should never go in the green bin.

For an easy visual reference, check out the City of Calgary’s handy Green Cart Guide here.

You can compost paper when it’s food soiled. Use your junk mail to make compostable bags to line your compost bin.! Our informal testing at HSCA kitchen reports that layers of paper are solid. Check out the City’s YouTube video to learn, ‘How to fold newspaper to line your kitchen compost pail’ .

2. BYOC

*BYOC sign outside Sunnyside Natural Market (338 10 St NW)*

Bring your own container (BYOC) as you head out to shop in Kensington! This is becoming more and more common as residents try to reduce waste, and most businesses are willing to fill your clean container with your purchases. You can even BYOC for take-out! Sunnyside Market and Canary Goods are great places to shop for common household and pantry items. Feel good for reducing plastic waste, and with an HSCA membership you get a great discount shopping local! They will also accept your clean containers for other customers to use.

Bring your own Container to Zero Waste night on March 3 at HSCA. The City of Calgary will speak about recycling right and you’ll have an opportunity to fill them up at our pop-up refillery for free. Check out our Facebook event page here.

3. Bookmark What Goes Where

The City has put together an encyclopedic database of waste for citizens to reference. Bookmark it and use it for your recycling questions. https://www.calgary.ca/UEP/WRS/Pages/What-goes-where/Default.aspx