A new long-term recycling contract for Curbside Recycling has been finalized between the City of Saskatoon and Loraas Recycling.
The new agreement with Loraas will take effect January 1st, 2020 and will run until the end of 2027. Russ Munro, Director of Water and Waste Operations with the City of Saskatoon says the new contract will see an increase in service fees for single-family and multi-unit homes.
Under the new deal, the monthly price for single-family households will be $7.38 in 2020 and $7.47 in 2021. That’s an increase of $1.72 from the current $5.66. The proposed increase for multi-unit homes in 2020 is $3.71 and $3.86 in 2021.
He credits the rate increases to increased pressures and shifts in the global recycling market.
“There’s a significant increase in the required quality of materials coming in. There are different materials that contaminate things like paper, such as thin film and some of those markets have dropped off.”
Munro says as a result of those markets dropping off, in return you don’t get as much of a favorable price for the sale of materials which results in the overall cost of the program.
The new contract will also see the removal of black plastics which include take out containers and coffee cup lids and the removal of paper coffee cups.
The black plastic is a lower-value plastic and is difficult to recycle due to its pigment. Coffee cups often contain a protective barrier called polycoat, making them more difficult to recycle.
Munro adds the increased rates will be reviewed by City Council during budget deliberations and that the City’s committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services will review a detailed report on the new agreement on December 2nd.
The City says the contract is worth $46 million over 8 years.
- Paper and cardboard
- Newspapers, flyers, junk mail
- Corrugated cardboard
- Empty cereal, cookie and cracker boxes (remove liners)
- Magazines, catalogues, paperback books
- Telephone books
- Kleenex boxes, toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls
- Copier paper
- Shredded paper (in a clear, tied plastic bag)
- Clean pizza boxes
- Paper egg cartons
Plastic containers
- All food and household plastic containers # 1-7
- Laundry jugs and milk jugs
- Juice and drink boxes
- Shampoo, conditioner and mouthwash bottles
- Cleaning product bottles
- Take-out containers, bakery and produce containers (called clam shells)
- Yogurt, sour cream and margarine containers
- Planting trays and flower pots
- Lids from coffee cups
Foil and cans
- Metal cans
- Soft drink cans
- Aluminum trays and foil (clean)
- Pet food cans
- Jar lids
Household glass
- Wine, spirit and beer bottles
- Food jars – lids off
What is currently not allowed in your blue bin:
- Plastic Film (Grocery bags, Plastic wrap, Soft/stretchy plastics)
- Food contaminated paper or cardboard
- Waxed or plasticized paper
- Diapers
- Soiled Kleenex, napkins and paper towels
- Styrofoam
- Plastic toys, Tupperware or other plastics without a #1-7 symbol
- Motor oil containers
- Anything smaller than a credit card is too small to be sorted by recycling equipment
- Needles
- Outdoor lawn furniture
- Pyrex or dishware glass
- Windows or mirrors
- Ceramics or porcelain
- Hazardous materials, such as needles and propane tanks are accepted NOT in the recycling bins. They pose a danger to staff and can impact the efficiency of the recycling process.
- Electronics or Paint are NOT accepted in the recycling bins. Most of these items can be taken to SARCAN.
- For information on the proper disposal of light bulbs, clothing, food waste, tires and microwaves, visit the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council.