SASKATOON – Reduce, reuse and recycle. You most likely learned the three R’s in school, but according to the City of Saskatoon’s 2015 Integrated Waste Management Annual Report, Saskatonians get a failing grade.
“We’re still below the national average in terms of our waste diversion performance. Here in Saskatoon in 2015 we had a twenty-one percent waste diversion rate as compared to the national average, which is at thirty-three percent,” said Brenda Wallace, the city’s environmental and corporate initiatives director.
Year-over-year from 2014, contaminants are only down 1.5 per cent and the amount of recyclables still going into the landfills is equal to the amount being diverted.
“We really need to build some awareness and get the help of citizens as partners in achieving our recycling goals in the community,” said Wallace.
READ MORE: Report considers expanding parking options in downtown Saskatoon
On the positive side, the report showed eight out of ten residents correctly identified which items can or cannot be recycled. Where there’s confusion and contamination is whether hard plastics, styrofoam or plastic grocery bags can be recycled.
Everyday in Saskatoon three busloads of recyclables are tossed into the garbage.
The City’s new “Blue Approved” awareness campaign hopes to decrease that statistic.
“The Blue Approved campaign will focus on those materials that citizens were maybe not realizing are recyclable,” said Wallace.
Billboards around the city and graphics on transit buses will show examples of what can and cannot be recycled.
City officials clarify that residents don’t have to fully clean materials before recycling them.
“People shouldn’t feel afraid that it has to be squeaky clean in order to be recycled, you really need to get the food chucks and residue off,” said Wallace.
The City of Saskatoon hopes to have seventy per cent waste diversion by 2023.
Comments