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JOIN YOUR BANFF NEIGHBOURS AND ELIMINATE LANDFILL GARBAGE BY 2050

 
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Residents can help maintain the long-term well-being and sustainability of Banff by taking the Zero Waste Trail.  

Reducing and diverting Banff residential waste going to landfill is a community goal that will benefit future generations.

Did you know that the Town of Banff collects and composts both raw and cooked food scraps? In fact, we’ve added a number of new Residential Food Bins around town to make Banff food recycling even easier. Check out the map and become a Zero Waste Trailblazer today! 

Use your neighbourhood Zero Waste Station to shrink your waste going to landfill. Click here to find your nearest Zero Waste Station.

Sign up for the Environment Newsletter

 
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HOW TO RECYCLE YOUR WASTE

 

To reduce the use of natural resources and eliminate waste sent to landfill, make sure all your recyclable items are sorted and put in the right bin – Food, Plastic & Metal, Glass, Paper. Make the Garbage Bin the last choice.

 
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FOOD BIN

To recycle your food scraps, start by collecting your food scraps in a kitchen catcher reusable container. Containers are free at Banff Town Hall, 110 Bear Street.

You can also use a certified compostable plastic bag or newspaper to line your bin.

Empty the food scraps from your kitchen catcher container into a Town of Banff Residential Food Bin located in your neighbourhood. View the map to find your nearest food bin.

What belongs in the Food Bin?

What doesn't belong in the Food Bin?

  • No plastic bags.

  • No oxy-biodegradable or biodegradable bags (BPI certified compostable bags are OK).

  • No wax paper or butchers paper (parchment paper is OK).

  • No vegetable or fruit stickers, twist ties or elastics.

RECYCLING BINS

Bring your recyclable paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, and metal to one of the Town of Banff Residential Recycling bins. The Town of Banff collects these recyclable materials and sends them to Canadian facilities where they are turned into a variety of valuable products.

What you need to do:

  • Collect your recyclable paper, glass, cardboard, plastic and metal in a container. A set of three stackable recycling bins are available for purchase at Banff Town Hall for $10. They are perfect to save space in small apartments!

  • Sort your recyclable items into the right compartment of a Town of Banff Residential Recycling bin located in your neighborhood.

What belongs in the Plastic & Metal Recycling Bin?

What doesn't belong in the Plastic & Metal Recycling Bin?

  • No plastic bags.

  • No Styrofoam.

  • No stretchy plastic.

  • No garbage.

  • No glass.

  • No food.

What belongs in the Glass Recycling Bin?

What doesn’t belong in the Glass Recycling Bin?

  • No plastic bags.

  • No garbage.

  • No food.

What belongs in the Paper Recycling Bin?

What doesn't belong in the Paper Recycling Bin?

  • No commercial cardboard.

  • No plastic bags.

  • No garbage.

  • No glass.

  • No food.

REFUNDABLE DRINK CONTAINERS

Return to the Banff Bottle Depot for a Refund

What you need to do:

Sort out all eligible refundable drink containers. Return them for your refund at the Banff Bottle Depot, 152 Eagle Crescent. If you are unable to take them to the depot, refundable drink containers can be added to the Town of Banff Residential Plastic & Metal recycling bin.

What doesn't belong at the Banff Bottle Depot?

  • No plastic bags.

  • No garbage.

  • No tetra-food containers (broth and soup).

  • Tetra-food containers go in the Paper Bin.

LANDFILL BIN

Make the landfill the last choice. By shrinking your landfill waste, you help protect the park for future generations to enjoy.

Before throwing your waste into the garbage sort out all eligible recycling and food first. If the item can’t be composted or recycled, then dispose of your garbage into the nearest Town of Banff Residential Garbage Bin.

What belongs in the Landfill Bin?

What doesn't belong in the Landfill Bin?

  • No recycling.

  • No food.

NOT SURE WHERE THE NEAREST WASTE STATION IS?

Click here to find the nearest zero waste station.

 
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Still not sure which bin to use?

Use the What Goes Where search tool for tips to sort your waste.

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 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • A: It is estimated food waste in Canada equates to 35.5 million metric tonnes, of which 32% is avoidable. The value of avoidable food loss and waste equates to $49.5 billion, representing 51.8 percent of what Canadians spent on food in 2016. This equates to 3% of Canada's 2016 GDP and would feed every person living in Canada for almost 5 months.

  • A: Organic material does not turn into soil or compost when it's buried in the landfill. It takes decades to decompose, and in the meantime, releases greenhouse gases approximately 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Approximately 20% of Canada's methane emissions come from landfills. These greenhouse gases are a major contributor to climate change.

  • A: You should never backyard compost. It's not allowed in Banff because it's a wildlife attractant.

  • A: Yes. All kinds of meat, fish, shellfish and bones can go in the Residential Food Bin for composting.

  • A: If pizza boxes are clean, and have minimal grease or food scraps on them, they can be placed in the Mixed Paper recycling bin. If pizza boxes are soiled with grease and/or food, they can be placed in the Food bin for composting.

  • A: Single-use paper coffee cups go in the garbage. They cannot be recycled because they often have a thin internal plastic liner which makes them a contaminant in the paper recycling stream.

  • A: They’re transported to Stoney Soil Products Compost Facility near Olds, Alberta.

 
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Sign Up for the Zero Waste Trail Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest developments on the Zero Waste Trail.

CLICK HERE to sign up.

 
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Resources for download

 

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For print or digital use

Activation Training Poster

Learn what goes in the food bin

Zero Waste Trail Residential Information Brochure

Your what goes where trail map for moving towards zero waste

Educational Poster

Where does your waste end up?

Educational Poster

Reduce waste by sorting

Educational Poster

Welcome to your Zero Waste Station

 
 
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