Summary#

On October 5, 2026, Calgary’s Executive Committee carried a motion recommending that Council approve proposed waste and recycling rates and charges for 2027–2030. Council has not yet made that decision, so the proposed rates are not yet in effect. City staff say the goal is to maintain current service levels and fund needed infrastructure and equipment.

• The recommendation would raise the monthly residential cart charge by $1.45 on January 1 of each year from 2027 through 2030—an average increase of 6.4% each year.
• It would raise the Basic Sanitary disposal rate by $5 per tonne in 2027, with no further increases to that rate through 2030.
• It would keep the Minimum Load charge at $25 per load.
• The committee recommended that Council direct Waste & Recycling Services to prepare budgets and amendments to the Waste Bylaw reflecting the rates, then return to Council in November 2026. The committee’s motion carried 7–0.

What it means for you#

• Residents receiving cart service: If Council approves the proposed rates, the monthly charge on your ENMAX bill would rise by $1.45 each January from 2027 to 2030.
• Residents, businesses and organizations taking waste to City facilities: If approved, the Basic Sanitary rate would rise by $5 per tonne in 2027. The Minimum Load charge would remain $25 per load.
• Calgarians generally: City staff identify collection trucks, facilities, front-line staff, landfill space, composting equipment and environmental controls as investment priorities. The stated aim is to maintain current service levels; the report does not guarantee a particular service outcome.

Money#

The proposed charges would increase the amounts some customers pay, but the supplied material gives no estimate of total spending or revenue.

• The residential cart charge would increase by $1.45 per month each year for four years, if Council approves the proposal.
• The Basic Sanitary rate would rise by $5 per tonne in 2027; the report says it has been $113 per tonne for the past ten years.
• The report says the Minimum Load charge would stay at $25 per load.
• The report identifies investments and financial pressures but does not give their total cost or say how many staff would be added.

What is unclear#

• Council’s decision is still pending. The proposed rates and charges are not final.
• The supplied material refers to Attachment 3 for the full rate schedule, but does not include it. The starting residential cart charge and other rates are therefore not available here.
• The report does not give a total budget, spending estimate, or revenue estimate for 2027–2030.
• The report does not set out customer assistance for people facing financial hardship.

Case for#

• City staff say the increases would fund trucks, facilities and staff needed to respond to growth and maintain collection reliability.
• Staff say more landfill capacity, composting equipment and environmental controls are needed for safe disposal, dependable processing and regulatory compliance.
• The report says the proposal focuses on maintaining current service levels. It also notes that people responding to recent business-planning engagement wanted reliability and infrastructure reliability prioritized.

Case against#

• The proposed increases would add costs for residential cart customers and people or organizations paying disposal charges.
• City staff say the forecasts use a medium risk tolerance. The report notes this leaves some risk that changing economic conditions or regulations could affect the service’s ability to respond.
• The supplied material does not show the full rate schedule or the estimated costs of the planned investments, making it hard to assess the proposed increases against expected spending.