Mixed Service Delivery Pilot

Since April 5, 2022, GFL Environmental has provided Black Cart garbage collection to residents in most of the northwest quadrant and part of the southwest. GFL was chosen following a request for proposals (RFP) for a seven-year mixed service delivery pilot to compare private and public sector service. Selection criteria included experience, safety, customer service, fleet, and price.

The City continues to provide Green Cart and Blue Cart service in the pilot communities.

Why is The City of Calgary conducting this pilot?

Council directed The City to contract out up to 25 per cent of residential Black Cart collection services. This allows The City to evaluate private-sector service in comparison with the public sector for residential Black Cart collection. 

Based on the proposal pricing and budget for City collection, estimated savings are up to $1 million per year. This depends on any price increases negotiated by the vendor and the cost of managing the contract.

We will monitor the costs of service and report back to Council annually. Any savings will be applied city-wide to the Black Cart program to help offset program costs.

Annual Update – 2024

The Mixed Service Delivery Pilot completed its third year of operations with GFL providing Black Cart garbage collection to select communities. Overall, GFL has performed to expectations and met the contract requirements.

The City evaluated GFL’s performance using four criteria:

  • Customer experience
  • Environmental performance
  • Safety
  • Financial impact

Customer Experience

  • Calgarians’ satisfaction remains high at about 90% in both the pilot communities and areas collected by The City.
  • The rate per 10,000 scheduled collection services was comparable between GFL and City-serviced areas in 2024.
  • Both GFL and The City responded to customer service requests within a day on average. 

Environmental Performance

  • GFL uses 10 trucks that run on compressed natural gas and one diesel truck.
  • City garbage trucks use diesel and are fueled with blended biodiesel in summer months to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • GFL’s trucks produced lower emissions than City garbage trucks.

Safety

  • No safety incidents resulting in lost time or medical aid were reported in 2024.
  • In 2024, GFL reported 13 incidents of property damage in the pilot communities. The City had one incident in a comparable area where it provides Black Cart service. 

Financial Impact

  • The contract costs for the pilot in 2024 totaled about $2.77 million.
  • The City applied $55,250 in penalties for contract non-performance including, but not limited to, missed collections, overweight trucks, and litter left on the ground after collection.
  • Total savings in 2024 from the pilot are $938,000.
  • These savings, and the anticipated future savings, have been built into the 2023-2026 budget and rates.

Communities included in the pilot

Click to see a list of pilot communities

  • Ambleton
  • Arbour Lake
  • Aspen Woods
  • Beddington Heights
  • Bowness
  • Christie Park
  • Citadel
  • Coach Hill
  • Cougar Ridge
  • Crestmont
  • Dalhousie
  • Discovery Ridge
  • Edgemont
  • Evanston
  • Glacier Ridge
  • Greenwoods/Greenbriar
  • Hamptons
  • Haskayne
  • Hawkwood
  • Hidden Valley
  • Kincora
  • MacEwan Glen
  • Medicine Hill
  • Nolan Hill
  • Panorama Hills
  • Patterson
  • Ranchlands
  • Rocky Ridge
  • Royal Oak
  • Sage Hill
  • Sandstone Valley
  • Scenic Acres
  • Sherwood
  • Silver Springs
  • Springbank Hill
  • Strathcona Park
  • Symons Valley Ranch
  • Tuscany
  • Valley Ridge
  • Varsity
  • West Springs
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