Starting October 1, 2026, residents in Rocky View County will be able to recycle more of the packaging they use every day through Alberta’s expanded Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) recycling program.
The expansion is part of Alberta’s transition to a more consistent residential recycling system. Under EPR, producers that supply packaging and paper products are responsible for managing and funding the recycling of those materials.
As a result, residents across Alberta will have access to a more consistent list of accepted recyclable materials.
What’s new?
Beginning October 1, the following additional packaging materials will be accepted through Alberta’s expanded recycling program:
- Foam packaging, including foam blocks, takeout containers and egg cartons.
- Food and body aerosols, such as cooking spray, sunscreen and hairspray containers.
- Flexible plastic packaging, including chip bags and granola bar wrappers.
- Tubes, such as toothpaste and deodorant tubes.
- Laminated paper and plastic packaging.
Residents can continue recycling materials that have traditionally been accepted, including paper, cardboard, plastic containers, food cans and glass containers.
For the complete list of accepted materials, visit Recycle Alberta | Circular Materials.
Remember: empty, clean and loose
To help ensure recyclable materials can be sorted and processed properly, remember to keep recyclables:
- Empty: Pour out liquids and remove food and other contents.
- Clean: Rinse containers or wipe away food residue.
- Loose: Place recyclable materials directly into the appropriate recycling container. Do not place recyclables inside plastic bags unless specifically instructed to do so.
These simple steps help protect the quality of recyclable materials and support effective sorting and processing.
What this means for Rocky View County residents:
- More materials will be accepted for recycling.
- Transfer-site recycling will become single-stream - no more sorting common packaging and paper recyclables into separate bins.
- Langdon and Pinebrook curbside recycling collection will continue with the current service provider, BluPlanet.
- Rocky View County will continue to assist Langdon and Pinebrook residents with recycling cart repairs.
Recycling in Rocky View County
Rocky View County provides recycling services through its Waste & Recycling Centres and other collection locations.
Accepted materials and collection options can vary by location. Residents are encouraged to check Waste and Recycling | Rocky View County before visiting a facility for current information about accepted materials, hours and locations.
A more consistent recycling system
The changes are being introduced as Alberta continues its transition to Extended Producer Responsibility.
Under EPR, producers that supply packaging and paper products are responsible for the costs associated with collecting and recycling those materials. The program is administered by Circular Materials, a not-for-profit producer responsibility organization.
Alberta's EPR system began its first phase in April 2025. The next phase begins October 1, 2026, expanding the list of accepted materials and moving communities across the province toward a more consistent residential recycling system.
Across Alberta, 287 communities will participate in the expanded program, including communities receiving curbside recycling service for the first time. The province-wide system will also use a single-stream approach, allowing recyclable materials to be placed together rather than requiring residents to sort materials at home.
Learn more about the expanded recycling program and accepted materials at Recycle Alberta | Circular Materials.
For information specific to Rocky View County, including recycling locations and accepted materials, visit Waste and Recycling | Rocky View County.