High River, Alberta will get curbside recycling pickup starting October 1, 2026, letting residents recycle more items right from their homes instead of hauling everything to the town depot. The new service, managed by national not-for-profit Circular Materials, means companies that make packaging and paper products will foot the bill, not local taxpayers.
Until now, High River residents had to bring recyclables to the drop-off depot at 640 7 Street N.W. Next door pickup rolls out this fall as part of Phase 2 of Alberta’s Extended Producer Responsibility program, which shifts the cost of recycling from municipalities to the producers. According to the Recycling Council of Alberta, the change could save Alberta towns and cities between $65 million and $70 million every year.
The curbside program will accept a longer list of materials than the depot currently handles. Residents can toss in glass containers, foam packaging, flexible plastic wrap, rigid plastic tubs, cardboard, paper, metal cans, aerosol containers, and laminated paper-plastic packaging. The old depot will stay open for people who prefer to drop off their recyclables in person.
Phase 1 of the provincial program launched April 1, 2025, covering more than 200 communities and about 90 percent of Alberta’s population. Phase 2 brings depot-only communities like High River into the curbside system, giving them the same recycling access as bigger centres.
For specific pickup schedules and which items are accepted, residents can check the Town of High River recycling page or the Circular Materials Alberta page closer to the October 1 launch.
