Delivery date set for green carts in Saskatoon

Saskatoon homes can expect to add that third waste bin to their lineup between March 13 and April 29.

That’s when the City of Saskatoon will be rolling out the newest green carts for residents in the city, according to a news release.

The timeline was shared in a report to the Standing Policy Committee meeting on Environment Utilities and Corporate Services.

The green cart program will see each home in Saskatoon receive a large green roll-out cart, a kitchen pail and ten compostable bags with an information package to get the program started. Residents who already had a green cart from participating in the previous subscription program will continue to use those, while still receiving the other items.

More than 60,000 carts are set to be delivered before collection starts in May.

An online map will be available on Mar. 7 to help households determine when exactly they can expect their green cart delivery to arrive. The carts will be delivered to the front of each property and can be placed for pick-up in the location where collection happens for black and blue carts.

The city said an organics processing facility is currently being built by Green Prairie Environmental. It’s expected to handle about 20,000 tonnes or 3,300 truckloads of material from the green cart program every year. The facility is expected to be ready by May 1, though a contingency plan is being developed by the city for an alternate processing facility in case of delays, to avoid interruptions to the launch of the new organic waste program.

Items like law clippings, leaves, meat, dairy and paper towels are among the many things that can be placed in the green cart, rather than put in the garbage. The city said more than half of what residents are throwing out can be composted instead.

Garbage cart collection will continue on a biweekly schedule once the green cart service begins.

The program will cost residents an average of $6.73 each month. The fee will be added to city utility bills beginning in May to cover the cost of colelciton, composting, cart maintenance, education programs and program management.