City launches recycling education campaign for businesses and organizations in Saskatoon

New online educational tools and in-person support are now available for Saskatoon businesses and organizations working to implement new recycling requirements within the Waste Bylaw that came into effect earlier this year.

As of January 1, 2022, all businesses and organizations in Saskatoon are required to separate recyclable materials from garbage. The materials covered by the regulations are the same items that are currently included in the City’s residential recycling programs. The new regulation means all businesses and organizations are required to:

• Have separate labelled containers for garbage and recycling;
• Educate employees and tenants annually about which materials are recyclable and how to sort them; and
• Ensure recycling and garbage are removed and taken to an appropriate facility.

“As businesses and organizations generate 68% of the garbage in our community, this program is an important step towards Saskatoon’s waste diversion targets,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “In addition to conserving natural resources, saving valuable space in our landfill, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, having a business and organization recycling program demonstrates an organization’s commitment to the economic and environmental well-being of our community.” 

To help businesses and organizations to be successful in meeting these requirements, the City of Saskatoon has launched a variety of new tools and resources to access from a dedicated webpage, saskatoon.ca/businessrecycling. Whether a business or organization currently has a recycling program in place or is still working toward meeting the requirements, there are many helpful aids now available to access.

These new supports include a new Recycling Guide for Businesses and Organizations, an educational video on Business Recycling to explain the requirements, and recycling signage to print and put in place onsite. Another key tool available on the webpage is the addition of the Business Waste Wizard, which will help businesses and organizations find out where they can divert recyclable items as well as other materials. Businesses may also request in-person support, such as lunch and learn presentations or site visits to assist with setting up waste diversion and troubleshooting issues.

“These new resources help us to progress the City’s Solid Waste Reduction and Diversion Plan,” says South. “The residential recycling program has been successful in keeping items out of the landfill, and now with businesses and organizations coming on board, all of our community will be working together to progress our waste diversion goals.”

Education will be the focus for the next year, and enforcement is set to begin in October 2023. Businesses that meet specific criteria may apply for an exemption from the new regulations, which will then be reviewed for approval by the City.

In 2023, a similar regulation for food and yard waste diversion will take effect, which will require businesses and organizations that generate these materials in their operations to separate materials. New education and support for food and yard waste are planned to launch in 2023.

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to visit saskatoon.ca/businessrecycling to find links to all recycling education tools.