Council approves SARCAN glass recycling pilot

SARCAN is going to be opening their doors to more items in Saskatoon, after city council voted in favour of a pilot project that could eventually lead to banning glass from blue bins.

The test program will see the City of Saskatoon paying SARCAN between $16,700 and $33,400 for the recycling centres to accept non-beverage glass containers at their facilities.

This would include items like mason jars, pickle containers and other glass not currently accepted.

The pilot was suggested by administration as a way to increase the amount of glass recovered by recycling.

Currently, about 90 per cent of glass collected through curbside recycling ends up broken before it is sorted. Only shards larger than one inch can be recovered and recycled.

If residents use the service, administration could recommend continuing the program after one year and to ban glass from blue bins in the city.

During the pilot, glass will still be accepted in blue bins.

The pilot project was approved by a unanimous vote.

The move comes after council voted to ban plastic film from blue bins in April.

A report is also expected to come to council next month which could recommend a complete ban on single-use plastic bags in the city.