Environment
Government of Alberta
Location: Alberta Government > Environment > Information Centre

FAQ-Land-LandFills

In Alberta, three classes of landfills operate:

  • Class I: Hazardous
  • Class II: Non-hazardous
  • Class III, Inert

Landfills in Alberta are both privately and publicly owned.

Many landfills throughout the province also conduct waste reduction programs, such as the collection and diversion from the landfill of recyclable materials. In some cases municipalities operate collection sites for their recycling programs at the landfill. In other cases, scrap metal such as appliances, and other large items such as electronics are collected for companies to recycle. To find out what programs exist, what items are accepted and other information about your local landfill, contact your municipality.

How do we contact our local landfill (e.g. materials accepted, fees, and hours of operation)?

Landfills in Alberta are both privately and publicly owned and of one of three classes (Class I, Class II, Class III), depending on what type of materials they are equipped to accept and where they are located.

To find out about a landfill in your local area, contact your municipality or visit the Alberta Environment Regional Waste Management Authority Contact List.

Where do we get information on codes of practice?

Alberta Environment created the Code of Practice for Landfills under the authority of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) . Landfills accepting 10,000 tonnes or less of non-hazardous waste per year must meet all its requirements. Landfills affected by this Code must comply with all requirements of EPEA , and register with Alberta Environmental Protection prior to commencing construction and operation of a landfill.

For more information, view the Code of Practice for Landfills at the Queen's Printer.

How do I become certified to operate a solid waste facility (landfill or compost)?

Alberta Environment legislation requires that landfill facilities and compost facilities have a specified number of certified operators to supervise the day to day operation. The operating approval for each facility and the Alberta Municipal Waste Management Facility Operator Certification Guidelines will specify certified operator requirements.

For more information or to access forms, guidelines and applications on Alberta Certification for Solid Waste Operators, visit Alberta Environments website.

Where can I find information on landfill closure requirements?

In an application for a waste management facility, the applicant must provide information regarding closure of the facility. The applicant must also provide an estimate of the cost of closure and post-closure monitoring or site maintenance, and prove that they can cover the cost of facility closure and post-closure care.

For more information on landfill closure, financial security and other related topics, visit Alberta Environments website.

Are there any development setbacks associated with decommissioned landfills?

When purchasing or developing any land you should discuss potential setbacks with the appropriate planning authority and the owner of the landfill.

The Municipal Government Act Subdivision and Development Regulation dictates setbacks from landfills. See Section 13 for for landfill setback information.

The Public Health Act Nuisance and General Sanitation Regulation has setbacks from water wells to landfills. See Section 15.

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