2010 Leaf and Pumpkin
Composting Program
Information Package for Drop-Off
Depot Hosts
PROJECT
The 2010 Leaf and Pumpkin Program will run from October 8 to November 14. During this time
residents can drop off their bagged leaves at any one of the many drop off locations located
around the city.
As a drop off host you are providing a great service for your community, and we appreciate you
allowing the city to use your site. We want to ensure that we can continue to provide this
service to public while minimizing the impact to you, so we are providing this information
brochure to all drop-off hosts to keep you better informed about the program.
This is the 21st year that The City of Calgary has operated the Leaf Collection program. In
2009, approximately 2200 tonnes of leaves were collected and sent to the compost facilities at
the landfills.
If you have any questions about the information in this package, or concerns throughout the
duration of the project, please refer to the Contact List section of this package.
If people within the community have any questions about the program please direct them to 3-11 or the Waste and Recycling Services Website www.calgary.ca/waste
SCHEDULE
Oct. 4 – Oct. 7 Site Setup
Crews will set up all of the sites this week, prior to the start of the program. There is no detailed
schedule for when each site will be completed, but all depots will be set up by the October 8th
start date.
Oct. 8 – Nov. 14 Project Duration
Continual servicing to depots will be provided throughout this time.
Nov. 15 – Nov. 19 Site Clean-up
Depots will be taken down and NO DUMPING signs will be put up at each site. The sites will
continue to be serviced throughout this time.
Nov. 22 End of Program
NO DUMPING signs may be removed at the discretion of project foreman. Garbage collection
will take over servicing of sites as needed due to illegal dumping.
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LOCATIONS
All of the locations where leaves can be dropped off are available by calling 3-1-1 or on the
Waste & Recycling Services Website www.calgary.ca/waste.
SITE SET UP
Included with this package is a map of the site layout specific to your site. Crews will be out the
week before the program begins, October 4th – October 7th, to set up the drop off area. The
materials they will be setting up include:
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a 4ft high chain link fence,
a sign directly in front of the fenced area directing people how to drop their leaves,
signs as you approach the site directing traffic to the drop off location, and
If there are any problems with the site set up or if the site has not been set up by October 7th,
please refer to the Contact List.
SERVICE TO THE SITE
Crews will begin collecting leaves on October 8th and will continue until November 14th. Crews
have been scheduled to ensure that sites are kept clean and orderly. A Crew may not be able to
clear all of the bags at a site, but will ensure that the site is tidy and unobtrusive.
A rear loading garbage truck will service the sites regularly. Crews will load bagged leaves on
site, the leaves will then be taken to the landfills where they will be debagged and added to
compost piles.
Once the program is complete and the depots have been removed, crews will continue to check
the sites for two weeks from November 9th to 13th to ensure that any leaves dropped after the
program dates are still picked up. After this week, Waste & Recycling Services will still remove
any leaves illegally dumped on a site need basis.
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CLEAN UP OF THE SITE
Crews will begin taking down all of the signage, fencing, and green bins the week of November
14th. They will leave a NO DUMPING sign at the site notifying the public that the program is
now over and any leaves left at the sites will be considered littering. People looking to dump
leaves after the program dates will be instructed to do so at a landfill, landfill locations can be
found on the Waste and Recycling Services Website, www.calgary.ca/waste.
This sign will remain on the site until November 22nd; at that point it will be at the discretion of
the project foreman when the sign will be removed. Crews will continue to service the site and
pick up any leaves that have been
illegally dumped until November 14th.
If there is dumping after the program
dates, please direct them to one of the
three landfills, where they can bring
their residential leaves for free. If there
are problems after all of the signage is
removed, please call 3-1-1.
CONTACT LIST
Please don’t hesitate to contact any party listed below with any questions or concerns.
Program Coordinator
Lindsay Lofthouse
Waste Diversion Specialist
Office: (403) 268-8468
Cell: (403) 519-5463
Email: lindsay.lofthouse@calgary.ca
Program Superintendent
Darcy Cairns
Automated Collection Superintendent
Office: (403) 268-8412
Email: darcy.cairns@calgary.ca
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FAQ’s
Why is the City of Calgary running an Annual Leaf & Pumpkin Drop Off Program?
Due to the large volumes of leaves that are added to the regular garbage stream each fall, the
City of Calgary Waste & Recycling Services began operating a leaf drop-off program to compost
residential leaves. By participating in the Leaf Drop-off Program, residents help keep garbage
collection crews on schedule during peak volumes of seasonal waste, extend the life of landfills
and recycle a natural resource into compost.
How do citizens participate in this event?
A citizen will bag, transport and drop off their leaves and pumpkins at any of our drop off
locations or our three city landfills from October 3rd – November 8th. Drop off areas will be clearly
marked off with the appropriate signage. Citizens are instructed not to include branches, twigs
or rocks. Any of the three City landfills will also accept the leaves and pumpkins free of charge
after the program ends.
Where can leaves and pumpkins be dropped off after November 14th?
All three landfills will continue to accept leaves and pumpkins free of charge after the Annual
Leaf & Pumpkin Drop Off Program ends.
Landfill locations:
 Spyhill Landfill ~ 69 St. & 112 Ave. N.W. (via Sarcee Trail N.W.)
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East Calgary Landfill ~ 68 St. & 17 Ave. SE

Shepard Landfill ~ 52 St. & 114 Ave. SE
Landfill Hours of Operation:
 From November 1 to March 31 (Winter Hours) - All landfill sites are open 7:30 a.m. -5
p.m. Monday through Saturday. The East Calgary landfill is the only site open on
statutory holidays during this time.

From April 1 to October 31 (Summer Hours) - All landfill sites are open 7:30 a.m. -5 p.m.
Monday through Sunday. All landfill sites are open on statutory holidays during this time.
What does The City do with the leaves and pumpkins once collected?
Leaves and pumpkins collected from this program will be composted into nutrient rich soil at city
landfills. Finished compost is used at City of Calgary facilities and the Calgary Zoo.
What are the benefits of composting?
 Reduces your volume of waste which saves valuable landfill space
 Enables you to reuse the composted material
 Recycles the nutrients back into the soil
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Minimizes the impact to the environment
Increased the efficiency of our waste collection and disposal systems
Makes it easier to work with Calgary's heavy clay soils - gardens will be much easier to
maintain because composted material makes your soil hold water better, discourages
weeds and makes gardens/lawns less dependant on chemicals.
Who do I contact if I would like more information?
For more information about any of our programs or a listing of leaf and pumpkin drop off
locations or city landfill closest to you, call 3-1-1.
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