$1 million provided to maintain recycling

The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $1 million in bridge funding for recycling programs in the province, Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff announced today. The funding is an interim measure to maintain current paper and cardboard recycling programs until the province-wide Multi-Material Recycling Program (MMRP) is implemented.

"The development of the MMRP is a huge step forward for waste management in Saskatchewan and will reduce the amount of household waste going to landfills by up to 40 per cent," Cheveldayoff said. "It is anticipated that full implementation of MMRP will not occur until early 2014 and this funding will ensure that existing paper and fibre recycling programs can continue to provide residents with recycling opportunities."

Three provincial recycling organizations will receive funding based on their estimated recycling volumes:

$440,000 to Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres (SARC) to support paper and cardboard recycling operations;

$230,000 to Association of Regional Waste Management Authorities of Saskatchewan (ARWMAS) for regional recycling operations; and

$330,000 to Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) to support municipal recycling operations not already receiving funds through SARC or ARWMAS.

"The 17 SARC member agencies that will receive this funding provide extremely valuable recycling services to their communities," SARC Executive Director Amy McNeil said. "This bridge funding demonstrates the Ministry of Environment's continued commitment to waste diversion across Saskatchewan, and SARC is grateful for the support it has shown to our agencies."

"ARWMAS is very appreciative of the bridge funding that we have received from this government, and are pleased that we'll be able to maintain our regional recycling programs for another year," AWRMAS Chair Wally Lorenz said. "We're looking forward to implementation of the Multi-Material Recycling Program and the long-term sustainability it will provide for recycling operations in this province."

"SUMA is proud to again partner with the government to continue this essential program," SUMA President Debra Button said. "Along with our members, we appreciate the province's continued commitment to helping urban governments sustain their recycling programs in this critical time before the implementation of the Multi-Material Recycling Program."

Since 2009, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed $6.5 million in bridge funding diverting approximately 173,000 tonnes of paper and fibre material from Saskatchewan landfills. That is equivalent to saving more than two million trees.