Cleaning up your yard can leave you with a surprising amount of waste. A few hours of pruning, landscaping, reorganizing the garage, or clearing out the backyard can quickly create piles of branches, leaves, old patio furniture, broken planters, damaged outdoor equipment, and other unwanted items.
The question then becomes: what is the best way to get rid of yard waste and outdoor junk in Calgary?
For smaller amounts of organic yard waste, Calgary’s Green Cart program may be all you need. Larger cleanups can be more complicated, especially when you’re dealing with bulky items or a combination of yard waste and outdoor junk.
Knowing your options can help you choose the easiest and most appropriate way to clear your property.
What Is Considered Yard Waste in Calgary?
Yard waste generally refers to organic material produced while maintaining your lawn, garden, trees, and other landscaped areas.
Common examples include:
Grass clippings
Leaves and pine needles
Branches and twigs
Hedge trimmings
Tree trimmings
Plants and flowers
Weeds
Untreated mulch
The City of Calgary accepts small quantities of many of these materials through its Green Cart program. Branches and other pieces placed in the green cart must generally be less than 15 cm (6 inches) in diameter and 1.25 m (4 feet) long, and the cart lid needs to close.
For a regular weekend of lawn and garden maintenance, your green cart may therefore be the simplest solution.
The challenge starts when the cleanup produces considerably more material than your cart can handle.
What Should You Do With Extra Yard Waste in Calgary?
If your green cart is full, the City allows additional yard waste to be placed in paper yard waste bags. Bags should be rolled closed, kept under 20 kg (44 pounds), and placed approximately 0.5 metres (2 feet) from the green cart on collection day. During particularly busy periods, however, the City may limit how many additional bags are collected at once.
That works well for a few extra bags of grass or leaves.
It becomes less convenient when you’re dealing with a major landscaping project, tree and shrub trimming, a neglected backyard, or years of accumulated outdoor clutter.
For large quantities of eligible yard waste, Calgary residents can transport material to a City Eco Centre for composting. Charges may apply outside designated seasonal drop-off periods.
If you don’t have a suitable vehicle, don’t want to make multiple trips, or have more than just compostable yard waste to remove, professional outdoor junk removal can provide a much simpler alternative.
Yard Waste vs. Outdoor Junk: What’s the Difference?
Not everything you clean out of your backyard is technically yard waste.
Grass, leaves, branches, and plants are organic materials. Outdoor junk includes the unwanted objects and materials that accumulate around your yard, deck, garage, and property.
This might include:
Broken patio furniture
Old barbecues
Planters and pots
Garden hoses
Outdoor toys
Damaged storage containers
Old garden tools
Landscaping materials
Trellises
Tarps
Fencing
Outdoor décor
Broken play equipment
These items often need to be handled differently from compostable yard waste.
For example, the City lists items such as barbecues, patio furniture, garden materials, yard waste, appliances, and other oversized household items among materials that can be brought to its Eco Centres, with different disposal or recycling requirements depending on the item.
That’s why sorting through a large outdoor cleanup can become more complicated than simply filling your green cart.
How Do You Get Rid of Old Patio Furniture?
If your patio furniture is still in usable condition, consider selling, giving away, or donating it before disposing of it.
When outdoor furniture is damaged beyond reuse, smaller items may be suitable for your black cart if they fit properly. Larger broken furniture can be taken to a City Eco Centre, where charges may apply.
For an entire patio set, outdoor sectional, table, chairs, umbrella, and other bulky items, transporting everything yourself can require a truck or trailer and considerable lifting.
A junk removal service allows you to have the furniture picked up directly from your property instead.
How Do You Get Rid of an Old BBQ in Calgary?
Old barbecues are another common backyard item that can be difficult to dispose of.
The City of Calgary directs residents to take barbecue grills to an Eco Centre for scrap metal recycling or to an appropriate private metal recycler. Propane tanks need to be removed and handled separately through an appropriate household hazardous waste or Eco Centre drop-off.
Never assume that a propane tank can simply be thrown away with the rest of your outdoor junk.
If you’re booking professional junk removal, tell the company about propane tanks or other potentially hazardous materials ahead of time so they can advise you on what they can accept.
What About Large Branches and Tree Debris?
Small branches can go into your green cart as long as they meet the City’s size requirements. Larger quantities of eligible branches, tree trimmings, leaves, and grass can be taken to an Eco Centre for composting.
After a large pruning project, however, tree debris can quickly become difficult to manage.
Branches take up a lot of space, and transporting them safely may require cutting them into smaller sections and securing the load properly. If you’re already dealing with piles of branches along with other backyard junk, having everything removed professionally can save considerable time and effort.
Can You Leave Outdoor Junk in the Alley?
No. Unwanted furniture, BBQs, yard waste, mattresses, renovation materials, and other junk should not simply be left in an alley, park, vacant lot, or other public or private property without permission.
The City considers leaving waste where it doesn’t belong to be illegal dumping. It specifically identifies furniture, BBQs, yard waste, and renovation materials among the items commonly dumped illegally around Calgary.
If an item doesn’t fit into your regular collection carts, check the City’s disposal requirements or arrange for another appropriate disposal option rather than leaving it beside your bins.
When Does Professional Outdoor Junk Removal Make Sense?
Not every yard cleanup requires a junk removal company.
If you’ve mowed the lawn and have a couple of bags of grass clippings, using your green cart makes much more sense.
Professional removal becomes particularly useful when the size or variety of the cleanup makes handling everything yourself inconvenient.
For example, you might be cleaning up after:
A major landscaping project
Spring or fall yard cleanup
Tree and shrub pruning
A backyard renovation
Moving into or out of a property
Replacing patio furniture
Cleaning out a garage or shed
Preparing a property for sale
Clearing an estate
Years of accumulated outdoor clutter
Instead of sorting, loading, securing, and transporting everything yourself, a junk removal crew can handle the heavy lifting and remove the unwanted material directly from your property.
Do You Need to Move Everything to the Curb?
One of the advantages of full-service junk removal is that you shouldn’t have to do the hardest part yourself.
At Calgary Junk Removal, our crew can remove approved items from around your property and handle the lifting and loading.
That means you don’t have to drag heavy patio furniture around the house, carry bulky items to the alley, or find a way to load everything into your own vehicle.
This can be particularly helpful for backyard cleanups where access is limited or the unwanted items are heavy and awkward to move.
Can Outdoor Junk Be Recycled or Donated?
Depending on its condition and material, some outdoor junk may have options beyond disposal.
Usable patio furniture and household goods may be suitable for reuse or donation, while metal items such as certain BBQs can be recycled as scrap metal. Organic yard waste such as leaves, branches, and grass can be composted when handled through the appropriate waste stream.
Keeping these materials separated where practical helps direct them toward the appropriate destination.
How to Make a Large Backyard Cleanup Easier
Before starting a major cleanup, it helps to think about what you’re actually removing.
Separate obvious yard waste such as branches and leaves from bulky outdoor items. Set aside anything that’s still in good enough condition to donate or reuse. Identify items such as propane tanks, chemicals, paint, batteries, or other hazardous materials that may require special handling.
Then look at what’s left.
If it’s only a few bags, your regular City collection options may be sufficient. If you’re looking at piles of branches, furniture, BBQs, landscaping materials, and miscellaneous outdoor junk, that’s when arranging one pickup can become much more practical than trying to dispose of everything individually.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yard Waste and Outdoor Junk Removal in Calgary
Can yard waste go in the green cart in Calgary?
Yes. The City of Calgary accepts many types of yard and garden waste in green carts, including grass clippings, leaves, plants, branches, hedge trimmings, and tree trimmings. Size and weight requirements apply.
What if I have too much yard waste for my green cart?
Extra eligible yard waste can be placed in paper yard waste bags according to City requirements. Larger quantities can also be taken to a City Eco Centre, where fees may apply depending on the material and time of year.
Where can I take large outdoor items in Calgary?
City Eco Centres accept a range of oversized household and outdoor items, including certain patio furniture, BBQs, garden materials, and yard waste. Different fees and handling requirements may apply depending on the item.
Can a junk removal company take yard waste and furniture at the same time?
For many outdoor cleanups, yes. This is one of the main advantages of professional outdoor junk removal. Instead of making separate arrangements for branches, furniture, and other outdoor junk, you may be able to have multiple types of approved material removed during the same appointment.
How much does outdoor junk removal cost?
Pricing generally depends on how much material needs to be removed, the type of material, its weight, and how easy it is to access.
If you’re unsure how much outdoor junk you have, send us a photo for an estimate. A few pictures of the yard or junk pile can help us understand the size of the cleanup before you book.
Clear Out Your Yard Without the Hassle
A clean backyard gives you more room to enjoy your property, but getting there can involve a lot more work than expected.
Small amounts of leaves, grass, and branches can often be handled through Calgary’s residential yard waste program. When your cleanup involves large quantities of material, bulky furniture, BBQs, landscaping debris, or a mixture of outdoor junk, doing everything yourself can mean heavy lifting and multiple trips.
Calgary Junk Removal can take care of the removal for you.
Whether you’re completing a seasonal yard cleanup, preparing for a landscaping project, moving, or finally tackling years of accumulated outdoor clutter, our team can help clear the space quickly and efficiently.
Send us a photo of your outdoor junk for a free estimate, or contact Calgary Junk Removal to arrange your pickup.
