Commercial Food Waste

Commercial Food Waste Diversion is Mandatory

Bylaw 2016-11 (Recyclables and Waste Disposal Bylaw) requires that all commercial property owners that provide space to a food service establishment must provide for collection of food waste that is separate from garbage. All businesses and organizations that generate food waste must put their food waste into food waste collection carts or bins and not in the garbage.

These food waste requirements apply to a business or organization that serves, sells, dispenses, prepares, stores, or otherwise deals with food, drinks, or meals regardless of whether there is a fee for the food (e.g. restaurants, coffee shops, healthcare facilities, childcare and senior care facilities, rental halls, cafeterias, grocery stores, food manufacturing, breweries, etc.).

Property owners can choose a private service or sign up for the Town of Canmore's Food Waste Collection Service. Sign up for the Town of Canmore's Food Waste Collection Service

More details on the program are available below.

Mandatory Food Waste Diversion Frequently Asked Questions

All cooked and raw food scraps, including meat, shells, and bones, coffee grounds and filters, paper napkins, wooden stir sticks and chopsticks, as well as paper towel from washrooms. 
You need to provide a separate bin or cart for food waste and arrange for collection. You can use the Town of Canmore's Collection Service or another option of your choosing. You need to make sure the restaurant (or any business that produces food waste) is putting their food waste into the cart/bin you provide. The bylaw requires that food waste does not go into the garbage.
If you lease space in a building, your landlord needs to provide a cart or bin specifically for food waste. It is your responsibility to make sure that your staff are putting food waste into that container and not the garbage. If the cart is stored outdoors, it needs to be certified animal-resistant (the Town of Canmore's collection service provides these). You are responsible for ensuring that your staff are properly latching the cart so that animals can’t get into it. 
If your hotel serves food (e.g. contains a restaurant, café or breakfast buffet), then you need to provide separate food waste collection. Visitor accommodations without food services are exempt. At this time, is not required that food waste from individual guest rooms be collected separately, though it is encouraged.
Food waste makes up more than half of the garbage from commercial businesses in Canmore. Like recycling, diverting food waste is now expected in our overall approach to managing waste. When food waste is buried in a landfill it not only takes up valuable space, but it releases methane gas because it breaks down anaerobically (without oxygen). Methane is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas and why diverting food waste away from garbage is essential to local climate action. Canmore is joining Banff, Calgary, and many other provinces and municipalities across Canada with similar bylaw requirements. 
Municipal Enforcement officers will monitor based on complaints. It is understandable that some food scraps may get missed and still end up in the garbage, but if larger quantities of food waste are found in the garbage, or a commercial premise containing one or more food service businesses is not providing separate food waste collection, the Municipal Enforcement officers can issue fines of up to $10,000 for multiple offences. 
Food waste carts/bins need to be in an animal-proof enclosure or be certified animal-resistant if stored outside. For carts stored outside, staff need to ensure they are properly latched at all times and that there is no food waste spilled on the outside. All garbage containers, recycling bins, and grease bins must also be always kept latched/secured and clean. Once grease or food spills on the outside of the bin it can become an animal attractant.  

Town of Canmore Food Waste Collection Service

We will provide businesses with 240 L roll carts. These roll carts need to be stored indoors or in an animal-proof enclosure. If this is not possible, we have an animal-resistant cart option that can be stored outdoors. 

You decide the number of carts you need and how frequently you would like them picked up. If you need an extra pick-up, you can contact us to arrange it with 24 hours' notice. Your scheduled pick-ups can be changed to account for seasonal variability. 

Getting Food Waste Collection Started at your Business

  1. Contact us to get started by submitting this form.

  2. We will answer any questions you have and arrange a site visit to help you get set up and determine where the roll cart(s) will be collected from.   

  3. We will work with you to determine your initial collection schedule and the number of roll carts you require.  

  4. We will deliver the roll carts and collection will start on your chosen date.

Pricing

As of 2025, the collection service costs $13 per cart pick-up. The roll carts are included in the price, but you are responsible for any smaller bins you need to use. 

Town of Canmore Collection Service Frequently Asked Questions

This will in part be dictated by how much space you have for the carts. We can advise you based on other restaurants that have food waste collection, however, it may need a few weeks to determine an ideal schedule. You can start by paying attention to how much garbage you are currently producing. Typically, a restaurant’s food waste is 50-80% of garbage. Generally, a 240 L roll cart holds about 100-150 lbs of food waste.
240 L cart: Depth – 71.6 cm, Width – 61.6 cm, Height – 108.6 cm.
120 L cart: Depth – 53.5 cm, Width – 48.6 cm, Height – 95.5 cm.
240 L animal proof cart: Depth - 72.9 cm, Width - 71.2 cm, Height - 108.2 cm.
We will provide compostable bin liners. These liners will help keep the carts clean and prevent food from freezing to the inside. We will replace the bin liners in your cart each time they are collected.
It is preferred that you set up pre-authorized payment. You will be charged on a quarterly basis for the number of pick-ups you had during the previous period. We can also invoice you if pre-authorized payment is not an option.
Collected food waste will go to the Canmore Waste Management Centre and then will be transferred to a compost facility north of Calgary.  
Ideally, the cost for food waste collection will be offset by the decrease in garbage. For food service businesses there should be very little residual garbage after diverting food waste to composting. We understand that not all businesses pay for garbage collection directly or may be locked into contracts with waste haulers that will not allow for a decrease in garbage pick ups or bin sizes. Food waste diversion programs exist in many Canadian cities and businesses often participate because of their environmental values, staff attraction and retention, customer appreciation or other non-financial benefits. Costs can also be decreased by working to reduce the amount of food waste generated or by participating in food recovery programs.  

Food Rescue and Food Waste Reduction 

There are local opportunities for food rescue and recovery that compliment the Food Waste Collection Program, potentially reducing the amount of food waste you are paying to have collected for composting.   

Food Recovery Barn

Surplus food that you can’t use or sell can be brought to the Canmore Food Recovery Barn. Their mission is to recover edible food destined for the landfill from supermarkets and restaurants. They sort, display, and redistribute the recovered food, offering pickup for residents every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30-6:15 pm at the Valley Lutheran Church in Canmore for a $5 suggested donation. If you have surplus food that could go to people instead of being composted or landfilled, get in touch through Facebook @CanmoreFoodRecoveryBarn. 

Secure Used Cooking Oil in Animal-Proof Enclosures

If you operate a business that prepares cooked foods using an oil fryer, you are now required to store used cooking oil in a way will that not attract wildlife.

Bylaw 2016-11 (Recyclables and Waste Disposal Bylaw) was amended in June 2023 to regulate the safe disposal of used cooking oil. Commercial property owners who store used cooking oil must store the container inside an animal-proof enclosure or used cooking oil container enclosure. 

Animal-proof containers or enclosures have to be maintained so they stay animal-proof, serviceable, and sanitary. 

A permit is required to build these enclosures.

An example of an enclosure that meets the bylaw’s requirements (Measurements: L: 1.57m (62”) x W: 2.18m (86”) x H: 2.20m (87”) sloping to 1.70m (67”))
  • The used cooking oil container enclosures shall be a fully enclosed structure (sides and top), constructed of wood or alternative materials as approved by the Town.
  • Access to the enclosure will be a person door that can be securely latched, so that the door stays closed.
  • The enclosure must have space to house the used cooking oil container and allow a person to enter and pour used cooking oil into the container.
  • The structure must also allow for access from the service provider to empty the container.
  • The structure must be able to contain any spillage caused by filling or emptying the used cooking oil container. The enclosure must be attached to either a concrete pad or asphalt.
  • The minimum size of the enclosure is 3.4 m2 (36 ft2.)

 

Where Enclosures Should Located

The enclosure should be located next to an existing garbage enclosure, or near the property line so it won’t interfere with existing parking or loading areas. The enclosure should also be close to a door that has kitchen access.

Permits

A Development Permit is required to build the enclosure. Review the Cooking Oil Enclosure Checklist to learn more about what is required to submit your Development Permit Application. 

Fees

The Development Permit Application fee can be found in the Master fee schedule (Non-Residential Development Permits - New Accessory Development).

Contact

If you have a question about the permit process, please submit an inquiry by clicking the following link: https://bit.ly/3iVLaYC and a member of the Planning & Development Department will get back to you within 48 hours.

If you have a question about the bylaw and what is permissible, please contact 403.678.1584.

Your Community