SASKATOON TOSSES MORE TRASH THAN MOST

Amount of garbage at landfill a concern

People in Saskatoon throw away more garbage than residents in almost every other city in the country, according to new numbers released in a city report.

On garbage day, the average weight of a residential bin is 19 kilograms. That is near the top compared with the rest of the country, which averages around 13 kg.

“Certainly, it is a concern. It’s on everyone’s mind,” said Brenda Wallace, the city’s environmental services manager.

The report outlines information from the city’s latest waste audit, which details how much garbage is thrown out and where it comes from.

In 2012, more than 117,000 tonnes of garbage made its way into the city’s landfill. Much of that — 54,288 tonnes — came from the city’s curbside garbage pickup, while the industrial and commercial sectors produced approximately 23,252 tonnes of landfill waste.

High-income neighbourhoods generated more waste per capita than low-income neighbourhoods, and older neighbourhoods generated more waste per capita than newer neighbourhoods.

Saskatoon’s waste diversion rate sits at 28 per cent. That’s a significant increase from a diversion rate of 10 per cent in 2006, and the mandatory curbside recycling program is sure to improve that number, Wallace said.

Still, environmental advocates and city officials like Wallace agree more needs to be done to get out from under the mounds of garbage piling up at the city landfill — a city-wide composting system, for example.

“Organics is certainly a huge chunk of the waste stream,” said Joanne Fedyk, executive director of the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council. “They know they have to go after organics.”

The report says the amount of residential garbage making its way to the landfill could be reduced by more than 40 per cent if the city began a serious composting program for family homes. The program could get the waste diversion rate up over 50 per cent, Wallace said.

A program such as that, however, would cost at least $45 million, according to an earlier report.

“We won’t be taking our foot off the gas at all. We are anxious to see the

“WE WON’T BE TAKING OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AT ALL. WE ARE ANXIOUS TO SEE THE NEXT STEPS.”

BRENDA WALLACE

next steps,” Wallace said.

The city currently operates two compost depots for leaves, grass and other yard waste collected through the optional green bin program.

The sites are also places for private companies and city workers to drop off things like fallen trees.

The two depots — one located on Highway 7 and the other on McOrmond Drive — collected 19,500 tonnes of organic waste last year. There is currently no city facility to process other compostable materials such as kitchen waste.