Pre-Move Decluttering: Where to Donate, Recycle & Dispose in Calgary
The complete Calgary guide to donation drop-offs, recycling depots, and disposal options so you can declutter before your move and save on moving costs.
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If you are moving in Calgary, the weeks before your move are the best time to lighten the load. Our Year in Review shows the average local Calgary move takes 5.5 hours and costs $1,092. Every box you eliminate saves time, truck space, and money. This guide covers exactly where to donate, recycle, sell, and dispose of everything you do not want to bring to your new home.
How Decluttering Saves You Money
Moving costs are directly tied to volume. Our Calgary pricing guide breaks down rates by home size and distance. A studio move averages about 5.2 hours. A 3-bedroom house averages 7.8 hours. Every heavy piece of furniture you remove before move day can shave 15 to 30 minutes off the clock.
On the flip side, Calgary junk removal services charge $125 to $675+ per load, and the City's Eco Centres charge $25 per load (under 250 kg) or $113 per tonne for garbage. Donating is almost always cheaper than hauling items to the landfill — and you may earn a tax credit on top of it.
The Move It or Replace It Rule
Not sure whether to bring it? Weigh the item against the cost of moving it. Here are the most common heavy items movers handle:
Couch:
280–350 lbs (sectionals can exceed 1,000 lbs)
Fridge:
~250 lbs
Washer + Dryer:
250–350 lbs combined
Queen Mattress:
60–150 lbs depending on type
If a worn-out couch is going to cost you 30 extra minutes of labour to carry down stairs, it may be cheaper to donate it and replace it after the move. Our best and worst times to move guide can help you time your move for the best rates — December is the quietest month (4.73% of annual volume) and moving in winter is typically 10–20% cheaper than peak summer months.
Where to Donate in Calgary
Furniture & Large Items
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
— 2 locations (Sunridge NE, Deerfoot Meadows SE). Free pickup for large items. Tax receipts for donations valued at $150+.
Calgary Drop-In Centre
— Donation Centre at 3640 11A Street NE. Accepts furniture, clothing, kitchenware, small appliances, and more through their Free Goods Program.
WINS (Women In Need Society)
— 7 thrift stores + the MORE Store across Calgary. Their House to Home program provides free essentials to people starting over. Note: WINS no longer offers free pickup; drop off at any location.
Clothing & Household Goods
Mustard Seed
— 2 Calgary locations (102 11 Ave SE and 7025 44 St SE). Accepts new or gently used clothing, footwear, blankets, towels, and hygiene items. Call 1-833-GIV-HOPE before dropping off.
Salvation Army
— Multiple drop-off locations across Calgary
MCC Thrift (Mennonite Central Committee)
— Accepts clothing, books, housewares
Books, Electronics & Specialty Items
Calgary Public Library
— Accepts gently used books for their book sale program
Electronic Recycling Association (ERA)
— Free drop-off at 1315 73 Ave SE for most electronics (fees apply for TVs and microwaves). ERA refurbishes devices and donates them to people in need.
Arusha Centre Repair Exchange
— Free monthly community repair events across Calgary. Before you toss a broken appliance, lamp, or zipper, check if the next event can save it.
The Alberta Tax Credit Advantage
Alberta has the highest provincial charitable donation tax credit rate in Canada — 60% on the first $200 donated. Combined with the federal credit, you get back approximately 75% of your first $200 in donations and about 50% on amounts above $200. That means a $500 donation of furniture to Habitat ReStore could net you roughly $225 in combined tax credits.
Keep your donation receipts. Habitat ReStore issues tax receipts for items valued at $150 or more, and registered charities like the Calgary Drop-In Centre and Mustard Seed can issue receipts for eligible donations.
City of Calgary Recycling & Disposal
Eco Centres (Formerly Throw 'n' Go)
Calgary has three Eco Centres for dropping off items that do not belong in your curbside carts:
Spyhill (NW):
11808 69 Street NW
Shepard (SE):
12111 68 Street SE
East Calgary:
3020 68 Street SE
Spyhill and Shepard are open Monday to Saturday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. East Calgary has extended weekday hours (opens at 6:00 AM) and is open Sundays during summer months. Electronics, household hazardous waste (paint, chemicals, lightbulbs), automotive tires, and blue cart recyclables are free to drop off at all three locations. Regular garbage costs $25 per load (under 250 kg) or $113 per tonne. View Eco Centre hours and rates
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Paint, solvents, batteries, pesticides, and pool chemicals should never go in your carts or curbside garbage. Calgary offers free HHW drop-off at 11 locations: 8 fire stations and 3 Eco Centres. The maximum container size is 20 litres. Find your nearest HHW drop-off
Mattresses & Large Furniture
Mattresses and large furniture items can be taken to any Eco Centre. If the item is still in good condition, consider donating to the Drop-In Centre or Habitat ReStore first — it is free for you and helps someone else furnish their home.
Blue & Green Cart Tips for Moving
Packing generates a mountain of cardboard, foam, and packing paper. Here is what goes where:
Blue Cart (Recycling): Cardboard (flattened), paper, glass jars, rigid plastic containers #1–7, tin cans, and stretchy plastics like bubble wrap (bundle it in a tied bag). Not accepted: styrofoam, mirrors, ceramics, or non-container plastics.
Green Cart (Composting): Food scraps, yard waste, pizza boxes with food residue. Not accepted: compostable pods, compostable cutlery, or diapers — they do not break down at Calgary's composting facility (one of the largest in-vessel composting operations in Canada, with over 165 million kg diverted to date).
Avoid the Fines
Calgary's Community Standards Bylaw carries real penalties for improper disposal:
$250
for dumping household waste without consent (illegal dumping)
$500
for maintaining an untidy property (Section 7)
$500
for improperly storing an abandoned fridge or freezer (doors must be removed)
If you are leaving items curbside before your move, make sure everything is properly disposed of or picked up. Our Calgary condo and apartment moving rules guide covers building-specific disposal rules, and our parking permit guide explains how to reserve street space for your moving truck.
Sell What You Can
Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, and Calgary Buy Nothing groups are the fastest ways to sell or give away items before a move. Price items to sell quickly — 20–30% below retail for lightly used furniture usually moves within a week. For larger items, list them 3 to 4 weeks before your move date so you have time to arrange pickup.
If an item does not sell after a week, drop the price or switch to a donation. The Alberta tax credit on a donated item may be worth more than a low sale price.
Your Decluttering Timeline
4–6 weeks before: Start with storage areas — basement, garage, closets. Book a Habitat ReStore pickup for large furniture. List high-value items on Marketplace and Kijiji.
2–3 weeks before: Sort room by room. Bag up clothing and household goods for WINS or Mustard Seed drop-off. Schedule an Eco Centre trip for electronics and hazardous waste.
1 week before: Final sweep. Anything unsold or undonated goes to the nearest Eco Centre or charity drop-off. Break down moving boxes you have already unpacked from early packing sessions.
Move day: Your crew arrives to a lighter, faster move. Our Calgary construction and detour guide can help your movers plan the fastest route to your new home.
More Calgary Moving Guides
Planning a move in Calgary? These guides cover everything else you need to know:
How Much Does Moving in Calgary Cost?
— Pricing by home size, distance, and add-on services
Best & Worst Times to Move in Calgary
— Month-by-month pricing and availability
Calgary Condo & Apartment Moving Rules
— Elevator bookings, COI, damage deposits
Moving in Calgary During Winter
— The chinook factor, road conditions, and winter discounts
Setting Up Utilities After Moving
— Enmax, ATCO, water, and internet setup
— What to know if you need short-term storage
Ready to move lighter? Get a free quote based on your address, home size, and move date. We handle the heavy lifting — you handle the decluttering.
Author
Walter Lyng is a multifaceted writer, marketing specialist and performer based out of his hometown of Montreal. Trained as a journalist, Walter spent several years working at a community newspaper before going on to work for companies such as Audible, Mattel and Bell Canada. Breaking into the stand-up comedy world in his early 20s, Walter has performed in venues and festivals throughout the country. He is a Just For Laughs recording artist and his comedy can be heard regularly on Sirius XM satellite radio.