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Image of a residential street, there is a garbage cart sitting at the curb with a blue recycling bag nearby.

Cart care

Storing and cleaning your carts 

  • Carts should be stored next to a structure on your property such as your house, garage or shed. 
  • Keep them in a shaded, cool spot. 
  • Clean the carts the same way you would clean a garbage can, you can rinse them to wash off any debris. Empty all the water from the cart and allow it to dry completely. 
  • Carts must not be altered or painted. Carts that are damaged by improper use or abuse will be subject to a replacement and service fee. 
  • If you want to identify your carts, you can attach a tag (such as a luggage tag) to your cart with your house number on it.

Damaged, lost or stolen carts 

  • Strathcona County will replace any cart that breaks or cracks through normal use. If your cart is damaged or needs repairs, call Strathcona County at 780-449-5514. 
  • Each cart has a serial number corresponding with the property. This helps identify your cart and helps locate and return lost carts. 
  • The carts are the property of Strathcona County and must remain with the property if you move. Please do not spray paint or alter your carts. 

Cart placement

Your cart requires one metre (three feet) on all sides so the automated truck can lift it. 

Leave at least one metre between your cart, materials put out for recycling, fences, mailboxes, parked cars, and any other objects. Do not place your cart underneath low hanging tree limbs or utility lines. The front of the cart must face the street.  

Illustration of a residential street showing a waste cart near a tree and some blue bags of recycling. The image shows 1 meter of clear space on every side of the cart, including overhead.

If you have a curb
If you have a curb, on collection day place the wheels of the cart in the gutter between the curb and the road. Your cart will be on the road. Arrows on the carts indicate what side of the cart must face the road. 

Illustration of a residential street showing a waste cart with wheels in the curb one meter away from a blue recycling bag.

 

If you do not have a curb or live in the rural area
If you do not have a curb, or live in a rural area, place the cart out at the edge of your driveway and the road. Ensure that the cart is stable on a flat area and the wheels are closest to the ditch or your driveway. Arrows on the carts indicate what side of the cart must face the road. 

NOTE: Rural collection is done with a split truck that collects both the cart and recyclables at the same time yet keeps them separate in the truck. For this reason, please ensure your cart and blue bag(s) are on the same side of the driveway for efficient collections. 

Illustration of a residential street showing a waste cart with wheels in the street one meter away from a blue recycling bag.

During extra organics collection weeks (two cart collection weeks)
Remember to make sure there is at least 1 metre between your carts. Carts that are not spaced correctly may not be emptied. 

Illustration of a residential street showing a waste cart placed in the street one meter away from a blue recycling bag.

Cart placement in residential bus zones

Residents who live within a residential bus zone must place their carts at the end of their driveway on their waste collection day. 

Place your cart on the edge of your driveway. If you have a driveway that extends past the sidewalk, please place your cart at the end of the driveway that is between the sidewalk and the road. Make sure your cart and recycling are not blocking the sidewalk. 

If you have a sidewalk

Illustration of a residential street showing a waste cart at the end of the driveway before the sidewalk one meter away from a blue recycling bag.

If you have a sidewalk with a boulevard

Illustration of a residential street showing a waste cart at the end of the driveway after the sidewalk one meter away from a blue recycling bag.

If you live in a rural area

Illustration of a residential street showing a waste cart at the end of the driveway on a rural road one meter away from a blue recycling bag.

Cart placement during street maintenance

You only need to change how you put out your cart when residential snow clearing or street sweeping is happening in your area. 

Please place your waste or organics roll-out cart at the end of the driveway (30 cm or one foot from the end). During snow clearing or street sweeping, carts cannot be on the road, sidewalk or in the gutter. 

Again, recyclable materials must be placed a minimum of one metre away from the cart (do not place on the road). 

If you have a sidewalk

Illustration of a residential street in winter showing a waste cart placed at the end of a driveway before the sidewalk one meter away from a blue recycing bag.

If you have a sidewalk with a boulevard

Illustration of a residential street in winter showing a waste cart placed at the end of a driveway after the sidewalk one meter away from a blue recycing bag.

If you live in a rural area

Illustration of a residential street in winter showing a waste cart placed at the end of a driveway on a rural road one meter away from a blue recycing bag.

Utilities
Phone: 780-449-5514
greenroutine@strathcona.ca

Related pages

Image of three hands on a pink background, the hands are holding a piece of crumpled paper, and empty glass bottle, and a banana skin.

What goes where?

 Someone holding phone with waste app open in front of organic carts aligned on street for collection

Waste collection schedules and maps

Last updated: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Page ID: 52478