City of Saskatoon’s multi-unit recycling program underway

Watch above: Individual homeowners have been rolling out the recycling for months now but multi-unit residences are just beginning.

SASKATOON – Employees at Cosmopolitan Industries are about to see even more recycling pass through their doors – the City of Saskatoon officially launched its multi-unit recycling program Thursday.

Cosmo said it’s prepared.

“We’re getting about five tonnes a day coming in, and that’s nowhere near full implementation. We have over 500 bins in locations around the city, and we expect to have over 900 of them by May 1,” said Ken Gryschuk, the organization’s business development and community relations manager.

The program required extensive consultations with residents, tenant associations and building managers.

Depending on how many units are in a building, it will receive either a larger or smaller bin.

“What we’ve tried to do is work with the onsite people–the property managers and condo association members … to determine what’s the best process for their property,” explained Gryschuk.

“Every location has a different place. Some of them are inside, some of them are in the back.”

The city has allowed for about 50 litres of recycling per unit, per week.

“The fees that are being charged on utility bills are very similar in their nature to what’s being charged to single family homes,” explained Brenda Wallace with the city.

“The rate for apartments is $2.51 per unit per month.”

The city will pay $14 million to Cosmo over its nine-year contract.

“The nice thing about it is it gives more ways for our (Cosmo) participants to be included in the community. They handed out–door-to-door–20 thousand brochures. They’re going to be involved in all of the functions,” explained Gryschuk.

All paper, cardboard, tin cans, cartons and glass are accepted.

Bin delivery will continue over the next few months.

Buildings that currently recycle with another provider have until May 1 to join the city program.