To mark Waste Reduction Week last Tuesday, members of the Yorkton Branch of the Saskatchewan Abilities Council and dignitaries announced changes to the city's recycling program.
As of last week, Yorkton's 19 public-use cardboard and paper recycling bins have been replaced with four larger bins that will accept cardboard, paper, tin, and plastic.The new multi-compartment bins were shown off at Tuesday's unveiling. The bins can be found at the SARCAN Recycling Centre on Ball Road, in the Parkland Mall's north parking lot, at the Kahkewistahaw Service Station on Broadway Street West, and at the Prairie Harvest Church on Melrose Avenue. A smaller bin is also located in the Co-op grocery store parking lot.
Several of the previous 19 bins will remain in place at Yorkton's schools, but these will no longer be available for public use.
The change is primarily a cost-saving measure, explained local Abilities Council operations manager Stephen Rosowsky.
"It's about the cost of pickup. If we could afford 20 bins, we would proceed with 20, but financially it doesn't make sense to have that many."
Some residents will have to travel further to reach the new bins, but they will also be provided with more recycling options than were available with the old cardboard-and-paper-only bins.
In addition, the public is invited to perform some of its own sorting of materials using the bins' multiple labeled compartments.
"That really helps us, when it gets here pre-sorted," Rosowsky said.
For citizens who receive curbside pickup service, the previously-announced changes to that program will come into effect on November 1. The program's iconic blue boxes will be replaced with bags: a change designed to reduce litter and increase the storage volume available to residents each week. The bags can be purchased at local grocery stores.
Last week's unveiling also served as a platform to celebrate the achievements of Yorkton's trailblazing recycling program. The Yorkton Abilities Council diverts 2,100 tonnes of loose materials, 8.4 million containers, 20,000 litres of oil, 20,000 lbs of clothing and household products, and 160 tonnes of electronic equipment from the landfill each year.
"I think we're quite spoiled in this city," said MLA Greg Ottenbreit at the announcement.
"We're very unique and very blessed in that a lot of other areas still have a hard time accepting tin, plastic, glass, and electronics. We are pretty much a closed circle, a closed system in this city."
Rosowsky and Abilities Council regional director John Denysek thanked Yorkton's residents and business community for their enthusiastic support of the program.
The city of Yorkton and its partners have a goal of sending zero annual waste to the landfill by 2026.
