How do I handle garbage and recycling for a Calgary basement suite tenant?

Garbage and recycling for basement suite tenants in Calgary requires clear arrangements between landlord and tenant, as the City of Calgary provides waste collection services to the property owner, not individual tenants.

Most Calgary landlords handle waste collection in one of two ways: include it as part of the rent (most common and simplest approach), or charge tenants a separate monthly fee to cover their share of waste collection costs. Since the City of Calgary bills property owners directly for waste services, tenants cannot arrange their own separate collection.

City of Calgary Waste Collection Services include weekly garbage pickup, bi-weekly recycling (blue cart), and bi-weekly organics/compost (green cart). The standard service provides one garbage cart, one recycling cart, and one organics cart per property. For properties with secondary suites, you may need to upgrade to larger carts or additional carts to handle the increased volume from two households.

Cart Size Options and Costs (2024 rates): Small carts (77L garbage, 121L recycling/organics) are included in basic service. Medium carts (121L garbage, 240L recycling/organics) cost an additional $4-6 per month each. Large carts (240L garbage, 360L recycling/organics) cost $8-12 per month each. Most properties with basement suites need at least medium-sized carts, and busy households often require large carts.

Practical Arrangements work best when clearly outlined in the lease agreement. Many landlords include waste collection as part of rent to avoid complications, then upgrade cart sizes as needed. If charging tenants separately, typical arrangements include: splitting the monthly waste bill proportionally (often 60/40 or 50/50 depending on household sizes), charging a flat monthly fee ($15-25 per month is common), or including it in utilities if you're already collecting for electricity and gas.

Storage and Access Considerations are important for basement suites. Tenants need convenient access to carts for collection day (typically the same day for the entire property). Many basement suite properties designate cart storage areas accessible to both units, such as beside the garage or in a shared area of the backyard. Some landlords provide separate smaller containers for tenants to use throughout the week, then consolidate into the main carts before collection day.

Special Waste Items like large furniture, appliances, electronics, and hazardous materials require trips to City of Calgary waste disposal sites or special collection arrangements. Clarify in your lease agreement who is responsible for disposal of tenant belongings that don't fit in regular collection. The City operates several Household Hazardous Waste depots and Community Recycling Centres that accept items not suitable for curbside pickup.

Lease Agreement Language should clearly specify: who pays for waste collection services, where carts are stored, which collection day applies, tenant responsibilities for sorting recycling and organics properly, and procedures for oversized items. Include language about keeping collection areas clean and accessible, as bylaw violations can result in fines to the property owner.

Calgary Bylaw Compliance requires proper sorting of waste streams - contaminated recycling or organics carts can result in collection refusal and fines. Both landlord and tenant should understand what goes in each cart. The City provides detailed guides and apps to help with proper sorting.

For basement suite landlords, including waste collection in rent typically creates the fewest complications and ensures consistent service. The additional cost of larger carts ($50-150 annually) is usually easier to absorb into rent than managing separate billing and potential collection issues.

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