Yard Cleanup in Calgary: Scope, Quotes and Disposal

Define the cleanup before comparing quotes

Describe the areas you want cleaned: lawn, garden beds, side passages and spaces beneath shrubs. List the work you want the crew to perform, such as raking leaves, collecting fallen branches, removing dead plants or gathering litter. Identify plants and beds the crew should preserve. Request separate quote items for mowing, pruning, sod removal or dismantling garden structures.

Send wide photos of the yard and close-ups of debris piles. Include the gate, stairs and route to the loading area. Have the contractor confirm whether they need a site visit before pricing the work. Agree on a visible finish, such as cleared paths and gathered leaves, and decide how you will approve and pay for additional work.

Choose bagging, self-hauling or contractor hauling

For extra green-cart waste, Calgary directs residents to use paper yard-waste bags, roll the tops closed and place them 0.5 metres from the cart. Each extra bag must weigh less than 20 kilograms. The City sets no fixed bag limit, but collection crews may limit extra bags during busy periods. Store uncollected bags on your property until the next week's collection. [1]

For residential self-hauling, the fall drop-off window runs from September 18 to October 31, 2026. Bring leaves, branches, grass clippings and plants with soil removed. The City excludes sod and food scraps from this seasonal program. If you choose self-hauling, have the cleanup crew separate materials and prepare loads you can transport and unload. [1]

For contractor hauling, confirm where the crew will take each type of waste and whether the quote includes loading, transport and disposal. Calgary assumes commercial vehicles carry waste from a commercial premise or business operation. It applies commercial rates and site rules, including exclusion from free residential programs. Confirm the contractor's disposal charges before budgeting around the seasonal offer. [2]

Separate disposal fees from the crew's price

Municipal disposal rates do not establish cleanup crew prices. Request written quotes that identify labour, bags or other supplies, hauling and disposal. For an hourly offer, confirm how many workers the rate covers and how the contractor records time. Agree on a spending limit and require your approval before the crew exceeds it.

Calgary's 2026 residential schedule lists yard waste at CAD 50 per tonne outside free seasonal periods and basic sanitary waste, including sod, at CAD 113 per tonne. For chargeable or mixed residential loads under 250 kilograms, the City charges CAD 25 per load. For chargeable or mixed loads weighing 250 kilograms or more, it charges the total weight at the highest applicable rate when you weigh the materials together. [2] [3]

Separate free and chargeable materials before loading your vehicle. Calgary's scalehouse guidance offers separate weigh-ins for materials with different rates so you can pay each material's rate. Tell the operator what you have before unloading and discuss that option. City staff determine material acceptance, residential or commercial classification and final charges. [2] [3]

Separate diseased vegetation and tree work

Tell the contractor about known diseased trees or shrubs before they gather debris. Calgary directs residents to bag this material and tie the bags closed. Small quantities can go inside the black cart with its lid closed. Collection crews will not collect diseased material left beside the cart, even with garbage tags. For large quantities, take a separate landfill load containing only infested trees or shrubs, notify the scalehouse operator and expect disposal charges. [4]

For ordinary tree debris in the green cart, Calgary specifies branches less than six inches in diameter and four feet in length. The cart lid must close. Have the crew identify oversized branches before quoting cart preparation. Calgary allows elm pruning between October and March and prohibits it from April 1 through September 30. Confirm pruning separately from collecting fallen debris. [5]

Prepare access and agree on completion

Move toys and loose belongings before the visit. Identify plants you want preserved and arrange gate access. Point out irrigation parts, fragile edging and anything hidden beneath leaves. Agree on a place to stage bags and a loading area. Confirm how you will handle weather rescheduling and how the crew will contact you before adding work.

For a self-haul trip, cover and secure your load and separate materials while loading. Calgary requires customers to unload their own materials; staff and equipment do not assist. Wear closed-toed shoes and keep children and pets inside the vehicle. Before the cleanup crew leaves your property, walk through the agreed areas and confirm which remaining bags or piles you will handle. [2]

Calgary residential disposal rates outside free seasonal programs

Choose the disposal arrangement before hiring

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph the work areas, debris piles and access route.
2. List included tasks and identify plants the crew should preserve.
3. Choose whether the crew will bag waste, haul it or prepare it for your trip.
4. Get labour, supplies, transport and disposal costs in writing.
5. Identify known diseased vegetation before the crew mixes debris.
6. Confirm gate access, the loading area and weather rescheduling.
7. Agree on a spending limit and approval process for added work.
8. Review the finished areas and remaining waste before the crew leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for a cleanup crew?

Municipal disposal rates do not establish cleanup crew prices. Get written quotes for the same work and disposal arrangement. Have hourly bidders identify crew size and agree to a spending limit. Have fixed-price bidders explain how they charge for extra debris or additional tasks.

Can I leave extra leaf bags beside my green cart?

Yes. Use paper yard-waste bags, roll the tops closed and place them 0.5 metres from the cart. Keep each bag below 20 kilograms. Calgary may limit extra-bag collection during busy periods, so reserve space on your property for bags awaiting the next week's collection. [1]

Does free fall drop-off cover my contractor's truck?

Calgary excludes commercial vehicles from free residential programs and applies commercial rates and site rules. Confirm which disposal charges the contractor has included before assuming the residential offer covers their load. [2]

Can diseased branches go with the leaves?

Keep diseased tree and shrub material separate from compostable yard waste. Calgary requires tied bags. Small quantities must fit inside the black cart with its lid closed. For large quantities, arrange a separate landfill load containing only infested trees or shrubs and notify the scalehouse operator. [4]