News Releases

A pair of size options to collect residential garbage at single family households will be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities & Corporate Services (EUCS) at its meeting Tuesday, September 6. The options are part of a report preparing the City’s move to a variable garbage cart utility in January 2024.

A variable black cart utility is a rate-based program where residents pay fees for the volume of waste they dispose and the services they receive based on the size of their garbage cart.

“While people are free to choose whatever they want, the volume-based rate structure is designed to encourage residents to divert as much waste as possible away from the landfill,” says Brendan Lemke, Director of Water and Waste Operations. “Residents with the largest garbage carts pay more and those with the smallest pay less.”  

The decision to fund both the garbage and organics services through payments on utility bills was approved October 18, 2021 by the Governance and Priorities Committee of City Council, at which time the Committee asked the Administration to evaluate the funding model and present options on timing, phase-in and affordability.

The two options up for discussion are:

• Option 1 (Recommended by Administration):
  • Three different garbage cart sizes would be available to residents upon request.
  • Residents would have a choice of cart sizes ranging from a 180 litre, 240 litre and the current 360 litre for year-round bi-weekly pick-up service.
  • This illustration compares the volume of the three black cart sizes. 

• Option 2:
  • Two different garbage cart sizes would be available to residents upon request -- the current large 360 litre and new medium 240 litre black cart for year-round bi-weekly pick-up service.

“Moving to a volume-based cart program will give residents choice based on their waste needs and it’s one of many components under the City’s Waste Reduction and Diversion Strategy to meet our waste diversion goals,” Lemke says. “We recommend Option 1 to City Council because it increases the customer’s control over their costs and provides financial incentives for waste diversion at a lower overall investment.”

The full report and attachments (appendix 1; appendix 2) can be found here.

For more information on waste and recycling, visit saskatoon.ca/wastediversion.

*This report includes road restrictions on Priority 1 (high traffic, high speed) streets only.

NEW

RUTH ST E EB LANES CLOSED FROM BROADWAY AVE TO LANSDOWNE AVE
(Sidewalk repair)
Two-way traffic will be maintained in WB lanes
Start: September 1, 7:00 a.m. End: September 8, 5:00 p.m.

NELSON RD EB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM HEATH AVE TO HEAL AVE
(Material laydown)
Start: September 1, 7:00 a.m. End: September 30, 5:00 p.m.

1ST AVE N ROAD CLOSED FROM 3RD AVE N TO PRINCESS ST
(Water main replacement)
Start: September 1, 7:30 a.m. End: September 20, 4:30 p.m.

22ND ST W EB & WB MEDIAN LANES CLOSED FROM AVE I N TO AVE J S
(Streetlight replacements)
Start: September 1, 9:00 a.m. End: September 1, 3:00 p.m.

SPADINA CRES E ROAD FROM 3RD AVE S TO 20TH ST E
(Nutrien Fireworks Festival)
Access to Boat Launch will be closed during this time
Start: September 1, 5:00 p.m. End: September 5, 12:30 p.m.

NIGHTWORK

CIRCLE DR W ROAD CLOSED AT 33RD ST W
(Bridge washing)
Start: August 31, 7:00 p.m. End: September 1, 6:00 a.m.

ONGOING

7TH AVE N ROAD CLOSED FROM 33RD ST E TO EMPRESS ST
(Valve repairs)
Start: August 31, 8:00 a.m. End: September 1, 5:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR E WB CURB LANE & LEFT TURN LANE CLOSED AT QUEBEC AVE
(Hydro Vac)
Start: August 30, 9:00 a.m. End: September 1, 5:00 p.m.

33RD ST E EB LEFT TURN & WB MEDIAN LANES CLOSED AT WARMAN RD
(Construction)
Start: August 20, 7:00 a.m. End: September 2, 5:00 p.m.

1ST AVE N SB CURB LANE CLOSED FROM 25TH ST E TO 24TH ST E
(Concrete work)
Start: August 29, 7:30 a.m. End: September 4, 5:00 p.m.

AVE H N ROAD CLOSED AT 31ST ST W
(Water main work)
Start: August 30, 8:00 a.m. End: September 5, 4:30 p.m.

MCORMOND DR ROAD CLOSED AT BRIGHTON BLVD
(New road construction)
Start: June 6, 7:00 a.m. End: September 9, 5:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

For more information about current road restrictions and construction, visit saskatoon.ca/construction.

As part of the City's Extreme Heat Response, all spray pads hours have been extended to 10:00 p.m. until Monday, September 5.  Spray pads are open daily at 10:00 a.m. Visit saskatoon.ca/spraypads for a list of spray pad locations.

There are over 70 locations across Saskatoon to cool off and take a break from the heat. View the Heat Response Map to find a cooling location near you. Note: All paddling pools are closed for the season.

Starting Thursday, September 1, 2022, crews will begin pruning trees on civic property in Nutana West, Nutana Central and College Park East as part of the City’s Boulevard Tree Maintenance Program. Tree maintenance operations in these three neighbourhoods will continue until December 16, 2022.  

The Boulevard Tree Maintenance Program follows a regular pruning cycle to help preserve the health of the City’s tree inventory, as well as to eliminate hazards and provide clearance from buildings, signs, streetlights and utility wires.

Tree maintenance often requires road restrictions. The City reminds pedestrians, cyclists and drivers to ensure safety is a priority by respecting the work zone and obeying all road restrictions and signage.

For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/treemaintenance.

On September 1, City crews begin the annual winterization of the 480 irrigation systems in Saskatoon parks and along roadway streetscapes. Winterization is an important maintenance procedure to help ensure the longevity of the City’s irrigation infrastructure.

Irrigation winterization involves the use of large compressors that force air through the irrigation system, removing any residual water so it will not freeze within the underground pipes. The force of compressed air exiting through sprinkler heads may pick up and propel debris within the work zone.

To ensure public safety, residents are asked to follow all signage at work sites, and to stay clear of all sprinkler heads, compressor units and related winterization equipment in the parks during maintenance.

The winterization process is expected to take seven weeks. For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/parkmaintenance.