Reducing unacceptable items, or contamination, within the blue bags is the most impactful step in our recycling system. High contamination rates can prevent the sorting and processing of materials resulting in landfill disposal of otherwise recyclable material. This can also increase recycling costs  impacting utility rate payers and consumers, result in higher waste volumes and can increase our environmental footprint.

Glass jars or containers can be extremely hazardous in the blue bags, as they often break and are hand sorted at various stages. For these reasons, the facility that processes our recycling will not accept glass in blue bags, which means the City can no longer accept glass jars or containers as part of our curbside recycling program.

Residents can bring clean glass containers to the City’s Eco Centre. Labels on glass jars are acceptable and jar lids can be placed into the metal bin also located at the Eco Centre. Broken glass containers are not accepted. If residents do not want to take their glass to the Eco Centre, they are encouraged to find ways to reuse glass in their households. If glass must be disposed of, it must be placed in the black waste cart.

Styrofoam cannot be recycled in a curbside blue bag. When placed in a blue bag, Styrofoam often breaks into small pieces that stick to other recyclables. Processing facilities are unable to separate loose Styrofoam pieces from other materials, contaminating them, and causing items to be sent to a landfill for disposal.

As of April 1, 2025, Styrofoam can however be accepted at the City’s Eco Centre for proper sorting and disposal.

There is currently no market to properly process plastic bags and film, so the City’s processor will not accept them. Plastic bags are a low grade plastic, which makes it difficult to turn them into a new product. Also, given their light weight, they often get mixed in with other items during the sorting process. This can result in contamination of the recycled material, which then goes to landfill.

Residents are encouraged to shop with reusable bags to help reduce the amount of plastic bags they use. But if plastic bags need to be disposed of, they must be placed in the black waste cart.

To ensure acceptable items reach end markets and are turned into new products, it is important to ensure that they are clean. This means that materials should be free of food chunks and liquid materials and should be wiped clean from grease and dirt.

The acceptable item list applies to all of the City’s collection programs, whether it’s at the curb or through the Eco Centre (50 Diamond Ave.). The only difference from curbside collection is that glass containers and Styrofoam must be taken to the Eco Centre for disposal.

Use the City’s online Trim Your Trash tool to help you sort with success! Simply search for an item and find out if it belongs in your blue recycle bag, green organics cart or black waste cart.

A great start is to rethink how you purchase, use, and dispose of various products. Did you know the three R’s of recycling (reduce, reuse and recycle) are in order of priority? Before you recycle, try to reduce and reuse first. Here are some simple steps you can take to cut back on waste and your use of plastics:

Reduce

• Reduce your use of single use plastic items (e.g.: items such as plastic forks, straws and take-out containers)
• Buy products with less packaging
• Bring cloth bags with you when you shop for groceries
• Plan out your meals

Reuse

• Take reusable lunch containers, coffee mugs and water bottles
• Buy items second-hand
• Fix what you can before replacing items
• Donate items you no longer use to charity

Recycle

• Keep recycling to ensure valuable materials are being collected
• Follow the most current recycling guidelines to ensure raw materials are going to the right place and being processed into something new

There are seven different numbers found within triangles on various plastic bottles, containers and packaging. These symbols were originally created to help identify the type of plastics being used in the product; however, over time and with product advancements, these numbers are no longer reliable.

For easy understanding, we have categorized the acceptable plastics into packaging types. Follow the most current recycling guidance to ensure raw materials are going to the right place and being processed into something new.

Black waste carts are limited to one per household. We encourage you to take some time to understand what can and can’t be placed in your blue recycle bag and the true impact it will have on the available space in your black waste cart. More information on garbage limits available on the garbage page.

Properties with secondary suites have the option to opt-in to solid waste service for the secondary suite under the residence’s primary utility account.

Clear blue recycle bags are see-through, so collectors can quickly scan the contents for contaminants and unacceptable materials. Blue bags also keep recycling contained, so it does not end up all over your street on windy days and protects  your recycling if it is accidentally dumped when being collected. Blue recycle bags allow for unlimited quantities of recycling to be placed out for collection, while blue carts limit the amount of recycling to the cart size and also requires additional storage of a third cart. Although the blue plastic bags have difficult markets right now, the benefit of using them for collection far outweighs not using them.

To address this issue, the City of Spruce Grove has actively advocated for a provincial policy that places product recycling responsibility on the producer or manufacturer at the end of its life cycle. As of April 1, 2025, the Alberta Recycling Management Authority introduced a policy approach called the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program to address this issue. The City of Spruce Grove is registered and is participating in this program.

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program benefits communities by shifting the costs of waste collection, sorting, processing and recycling from local municipalities and taxpayers throughout Alberta, to the producers and manufacturers who introduced the materials into the marketplace.

During phase one of the EPR program, residents can now recycle more materials in blue bags such as plastic take out and clamshell containers (e.g. fruit packages, bakery containers and boxed soup cartons). No other changes to curbside recycling services will occur at this time. As the EPR program continues to roll out, residents can expect further changes to the list of accepted items.