Council votes to ban plastic bags from Saskatoon’s recycling program

A decision was made to eliminate plastic bags and plastic film from the Saskatoon’s recycling program at Monday’s city council meeting.

The decision becomes effective as of April 1.

Officials said they needed to remove plastic bags and plastic film from the program as finding recycling markets that can process these plastics has become difficult and is causing contamination of other recyclables collected.

The city isn’t ruling out a plastic bag ban which would see plastic bags removed from use at retail locations.

Councillors felt a complete ban is not a priority right now because plastic bags and cling wrap only account for around two per cent of blue bin recyclables.