Possible waste changes on the horizon for Saskatoon businesses, organizations

Changes may be coming to how Saskatoon businesses and organizations dispose of waste.

On Monday, the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services will review a report on waste diversion for the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional sector (ICI).

The report looks at the city’s future approach to disposing of waste, recycling and organic compost and won’t change current day-to-day waste disposal.

If supported, the city would look at a phased approach to give the sector and waste service providers a chance to prepare.

City Director of Sustainability Jeanna South, said the ICI sector is responsible for 68 per cent of all refuse sent to landfills in Saskatoon and area. Approximately 45 per cent, or 76,800 tonnes are made up of recyclables or organic waste that could be diverted.

“That creates a very significant opportunity for diversion,” she said at a city press conference Wednesday.

24 per cent of Saskatoon’s city landfill’s materials are from the ICI sector, South said.

Committee to look at three potential options

There will be three separate options for the city committee to review during Monday’s meeting.

City staff drafted the options through business and organization workshops, online surveys and face-to-face meetings. Of those options, city staff recommended the one which entails separate verified waste containers for applicable businesses.

It’s projected to divert around 5,400 tonnes of waste annually.

This has been implemented in both Calgary and Halifax, which the city studied when creating the three options.

South said the option would put the city in a better position to achieve the 70 per cent waste diversion goal, along with extending the life of the city’s landfill. She believes it will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions that have been accounted for in the low emissions community plan.

“Waste diversion and environmental leadership doesn’t have to just fall on residents. This plan gives Saskatoon businesses and organization an opportunity to lead by example, and to enhance the quality of life in Saskatoon,” she said.

“By providing consistency throughout our community, I think it’ll be easier for everyone to know how to manage their recycling and organics, not just where we live— but also where we work and play.”

South also added that the recommended option is the cheapest available. The city projected a cost between $220,000 and $340,000 annually after 2022.

How will a future bylaw be enforced?

Education is a key element to enforce the waste diversion plan for the ICI sector, according to the city.

South said they expect to create a “complaints-based system,” where policing would come down to neighboring businesses and interactions with suspected perpetrators.

“We would send out someone to take a look, they would then follow up with additional education. We’d work with that (organization) to see if we could help better ensure compliance, and then we’d do a follow up again,” she said.

When should we expect to see this plan become reality?

If supported, South said the recycling phase-in for the sector wouldn’t begin until the second half of 2021, with organics phase-in toward the second half of 2022.

She said the city would be focusing on education and assisting with early compliance from businesses and organizations.

Standard bylaw enforcement will not begin until one year from the start of both the recycling and organic waste integration.