SASKATOON — The City of Saskatoon’s waste management program has diverted close to 41,000 tonnes of various materials away from the landfill in 2024, which was the first full year of the green cart for food scraps and yard waste program, according to the.
City waste and water operations director Brendan Lemke told SaskToday that the green cart program, launched in the second quarter of 2023, diverted a total of 18,000 tonnes of food and yard waste from the landfill to the compost depot in 2024.
Lemke added that almost 21,000 tonnes of organic waste were collected from green carts since the program launch, and approximately 38,600 tonnes of garbage from single-family households were sent to the city landfill.
“Nearly 41,000 tonnes of material were diverted from the landfill in 2024, the first full year of the green cart program. In addition to waste diverted due to the green cart program and compost depot visits, this total includes recycling programs in the blue carts and recycling depot visits.”
Lemke said that the city’s diversion programs increased by almost 10 per cent, from 24.5 per cent in 2022 to 34.2 per cent in 2024. The diversion programs at the landfill also included charity bins, as well as disposal options for household hazardous waste and glass.
The city began distributing green carts in April 2023 and started collecting food and yard waste the following month. With the help of the 22,250 green carts collected in the first week of May 2023, the program diverted 559 tonnes of compostable material from the landfill.
Lemke added that, although the numbers of waste diversions continue to increase, the city is working towards a target of 70 per cent of waste diverted from the landfill to its other disposal options, such as food and yard waste to the compost depot.
“Most of the waste landfilled in Saskatoon isn't garbage—over 70 per cent of what residents put in the garbage could be kept out of the landfill. The city takes an integrated approach to waste management,” said Lemke.
He added that introducing and implementing a variety of programs and initiatives would help divert waste from the landfill, and they look forward to the combined efforts of all residents to support their waste diversion goals.
Lemke said that residents can still swap their bins, especially the green carts, for food and yard waste by either calling Corporate Revenue Customer Service at 306-975-2400 or through the .
“There is a $30 cart swap fee for changing cart size. Large 360-litre green carts have been provided to single-family homes, while townhouses have been provided with 240-litre green carts. The city does not currently offer a smaller green cart option,” said Lemke.
He added that residents living in a complex with a single utility account can work with their property manager and the condo board to complete green cart swap requests. If residents want to check if an item belongs in the black, blue or green cart, they can use the phone app.
