Non-Residential Recycling and Garbage

RecyclingThe non-residential sector (businesses, organizations, and institutions) represents the greatest opportunity to divert waste from the landfill. Approximately 65% of Banff’s waste comes from the non-residential sector. And 50% of that is food waste.

Learn how to get on the Zero Waste Trail today!

Join the journey to reduce waste in your business, save costs, and empower your staff.

Phasing Out Metal Bins
The Town of Banff is phasing out the collection of 1,500-litre metal garbage and cardboard collection bins for the Non-Residential sector by April 2024. Metal bins create excessive wear and tear on equipment, garbage trucks and staff. We’ve been phasing out metal bins for several years and new trucks will not be able to service the old metal bins starting in early 2024.

The new plastic bins:

  • are easier for your staff and collectors to move
  • help trucks last longer
  • are safer for employees

Some businesses may be required to construct or modify waste enclosures for the new bins, to make sure they are approved bear-proof enclosures. New enclosures require development review and approval from the Town. Since the new bins are smaller, some businesses may save costs on servicing.

Other businesses may require additional bins or more frequent collection service. With a Town subscription for garbage and recycling collection, plastic bins are provided at no cost to the business and the old metal bins can be removed for free.

Initiate your conversion to the plastic bins. Contact Banff’s utilities administrator:

Yard and Garden Material Price Change
Starting April 1, 2019, the cost to drop off yard and garden material to the town’s transfer site will be reduced from $85/tonne to $40/tonne. The cost is bring reduced to encourage the non-residential sector to haul yard and garden materials to the transfer site for recycling, instead of throwing it in the garbage bin.

Options for Non-Residential Recycling Cardboard and Food Waste
To reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, non-residential waste can be separated into several waste streams.

Businesses are strongly encouraged to sort their waste into three bins: cardboard, food and garbage. It costs you less to have the Town service a cardboard or food bin than a garbage bin. Sizes and scheduled pick-ups for these bins are determined by the business owner; the more efficiently you divert your waste and schedule your pick ups, the more money you’ll save. Change your service using our online forms:

Other Recyclables - Paper, Plastic and Metal
You can sort and drop off other recyclable materials at the Waste Transfer Site, or hire a private hauler to come collect it.

The Town of Banff has eliminated the fee that businesses pay to deliver recyclable items like paper, plastic and metal containers to the waste transfer site. It costs money to have regular garbage collected, but this is a free option .

The Transfer Site is located at 138 Hawk Avenue and is open seven days a week, except public holidays, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please note that no loads will be accepted after 3:15 p.m.

In addition, businesses in the downtown are now allowed to put these recyclables (paper, plastic and metal containers) in collection bins that were previously limited to only residential use. This is intended to be more convenient – especially for the smaller operations – to dispose of this waste for free. 

Look for the four new, blue recycling depots installed in the downtown surface parking lots.

Printable Guides

Common items that can’t be recycled: Padded envelopes, carbon paper, elastic bands, paper clips, plastic liners, plasticized or wax papers, bones, twist ties, stickers, plastic labels, straws, condiment packets and foil wrappers.

Clear Bags Required as of November 1, 2017
As of November 1, 2017, all non-residential organizations and agencies in Banff will be required to use clear bags to dispose of garbage. Waste will no longer be accepted in black, coloured or opaque bags. Clear bags will allow you to identify materials such as food, recyclable containers, paper and cardboard inadvertently placed in the garbage. Once these materials are identified they then can be diverted from the garbage bin and reduce your costs.