News Releases

The City of Saskatoon is pleased to announce $200,000 funding from the Government of Canada under the Active Transportation Fund to support the implementation of its Active Transportation Plan. The Active Transportation Plan aims to provide more choices to move around Saskatoon by addressing infrastructure for cycling, walking and other modes of active transportation.  

“Residents of Saskatoon increasingly walk, bike, drive or use public transportation to get to their destinations. Our government is investing in these projects to ensure their commutes are safe and pleasant, and to encourage more people to take up active transportation. It is good for our health and for our environment,” says the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. 

“This funding focuses on planning and education projects, which supports the goals of the Active Transportation Plan to have more places for walking and cycling safely, to build a culture for active transportation, and to encourage more people to walk and ride a bike,” says Jay Magus, Director of Transportation. 

The funding is divided between four active transportation projects, with $50,000 allocated for each:  

1. Millar Avenue from 43rd Street to Marquis Drive: Planning project that includes assessment, engagement and design of a multi-use pathway. 

2. College Drive from Preston Avenue to McOrmond Drive: Feasibility analysis to determine active transportation crossings at interchanges and rail crossings. 

3. Victoria Avenue from Taylor Street to Ruth Street: Planning project that includes assessment, engagement, and design of pedestrian improvements and an all ages and abilities cycling facility. 

4. Active Transportation Street Team: Provide an education program about the rules of the road and the existing bike network.  

“We continuously invest in making Saskatoon a great place to live. Providing active transportation options is one of many ways we are working to support our residents," says Magus.  

Learn more about the City of Saskatoon's Active Transportation Plan.

The opening of the Material Recovery Centre (MRC), formerly the Recovery Park Landfill Expansion, marks a major achievement for the City of Saskatoon as it works towards its 70% waste diversion goal.

The MRC, located on Valley Road at the entrance to the Saskatoon Regional Waste Management Facility (City Landfill) is now open to the public and offers residents free drop-off for many recyclable items as well as a new access point for scaled waste.

“We are thrilled to open the Material Recovery Centre and offer residents of Saskatoon a one-stop waste drop-off location,” says Brendan Lemke, Director of Water and Waste Operations. “With more items with free drop-off and reduced rates for other recyclable materials, we anticipate diverting up to 3,500 tonnes of waste annually that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill.”

The MRC will provide free drop-off at Sort & Go for recycling, small appliances, batteries, oil and anti-freeze, electronics, metals, rimless tires, bicycles and appliances, with a $20 fee for appliances with refrigerant.

Residents can continue to visit the MRC to drop off non-recyclable waste including garbage and elm wood, via Scale & Pay, and have a reduced disposal rate for concrete and brick, which will be diverted. The City is also pleased to offer free disposal of elm wood for the month of October.

For more information on the Material Recovery Centre, including hours of operation and a detailed list of acceptable items and rates, visit saskatoon.ca/mrc.

New online education tools and in-person support are now available for Saskatoon businesses and organizations working to implement new organics diversion requirements within the Waste Bylaw that came into effect earlier this year. The education phase begins this October and enforcement will not occur until October 2024 to give businesses and organizations time to meet the new bylaw regulation.

All businesses and organizations that generate food or yard waste as part of their operations in Saskatoon are required to have separate bins to divert organics from the garbage. The organics regulation means all businesses and organizations are required to:

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

Establishments belonging under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes of industries that are known to generate organic waste are required to follow the bylaw regardless of establishment size or number of employees or tenants. An exemption process is available to address circumstances where materials may not be generated or there are other factors preventing compliance beyond an establishment’s control. Businesses who do not produce food or yard waste as part of their operations do not need an exemption.

“Businesses and organizations generate 68% of the garbage in our community. Approximately 25% is organic waste that could be rescued or composted,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “With the new residential green cart program, the City has already diverted over 11,000 tonnes of food and yard waste from the landfill. Through this program, businesses and organizations will be diverting the same waste as residents and bring us one step closer to achieving the City’s goal of 70% waste diversion.”

To help businesses and organizations meet these new requirements, the City of Saskatoon has launched a dedicated webpage that includes a variety of new tools and resources to access. Resources include a new Organics Guide for Businesses and Organizations and other print materials that can be printed and used on site for education. Businesses may also request in-person support to assist with setting up organics diversion and troubleshooting issues. The Business Waste Wizard remains a resource for businesses in helping sort their waste.

The Solid Waste Reduction and Diversion Plan, finalized in early 2021, includes organic waste diversion for all sectors to be phased in over the next few years. The new residential green cart program rolled out earlier this year and has already has participation rates similar to black cart garbage and blue cart recycling. A multi-unit organics program pilot is set to start later this year for residents that have their waste collected in large communal bins.

Businesses and organizations are encouraged to visit saskatoon.ca/businessorganics for more information and access to resources to get started with their organics programs.

The City of Saskatoon is set to kick off its annual Fall Street Sweeping Campaign, a crucial initiative aimed at maintaining the city's cleanliness and strategy to prevent springtime flooding.  

From October 16 to October 25, street sweeping crews will be hard at work clearing the streets of fallen leaves in the city’s leafiest neighbourhoods: Buena Vista, Caswell Hill, City Park, Exhibition, Holiday Park, King George, Mayfair, Nutana, Riversdale and Varsity View. Find your sweep day at saskatoon.ca/sweep. 

“Leaves can pose a challenge when they accumulate on city streets and can plug catch basins and storm drains, leading to flooding during the spring melt,” says Tracy Danielson, Roadways Manager. 

“This proactive measure is a safeguard for City infrastructure and enhances the overall quality of life for residents.” 

Like residential street sweeping in the spring, temporary parking restrictions will be enforced with ticketing and towing as required. 

How you can help: 

1. Pick up leaves on the sidewalk and boulevard beside your property. Don’t push leaves onto the street because big piles of leaves slow down sweeping. 

2. Put loose leaves in your green cart or take them to a compost depot. Bagged leaves can go in your black cart. 

3. Watch for yellow No Parking signs and move your car by 7:00 a.m. on your sweep day. Refer to Find My Vehicle! to locate your vehicle if it was towed or call our Customer Care Centre at 306-975-2476. 

Service Alerts will be issued for any expected changes that may affect the sweep schedule, such as weather. Find more information at saskatoon.ca/sweep. 

Following the October 6 provincial government announcement of its plan for homelessness and mental health supports, the City is being asked to assist provincial ministry officials locate compatible areas where smaller-sized shelters could operate. 

The province last week outlined several strategies to address the homelessness, mental health and addictions crisis in Saskatoon and other cities.  The plan calls for more supports for mental health and addictions plus a three-pillar approach to addressing homelessness. 

As outlined in an Administration report to the Wednesday, October 11 meeting of Governance and Priorities Committee of City Council, the provincial government program is prepared to provide funding for all the real estate, rental and operating costs for smaller-sized shelters. There would be independent service providers to operate the shelters.  

Shelters with fewer beds have operated throughout Saskatoon with minimal negative impact.  As noted in the report, there are successful examples of emergency shelters in Saskatoon that are similar in size to the two sites being sought for the new facilities. The report highlights the City’s role would be limited.   

The proposed criteria would be: 

• Two sites providing a combined total of 60 beds 

• Beds in an open shelter-type hall with movable partitions 

• Some private rooms with internal access 

• Area suitable for staff office space 

• Kitchen, showers and bathroom facilities 

• Internal and external gathering spaces on site 

• Proximity to other services   

• Zoned appropriately for shelter/care home or applicable for Emergency Shelter zoning provision 

The provincial government announcement follows recent results from the Civic Services Survey which identifies homelessness as the most important issue facing the city.