SASKATOON — Following a July 7 story on SaskToday regarding residents’ concerns with donation bins in the Silverwood/Lawson Heights neighbourhood, the City of Saskatoon water and waste operations department said they are aware of the problem and are working on it.
“The city has worked to make changes at the recycling depot sites including the Lawson depot to improve conditions. The donation bins were originally located closer to the recycling bins; however, they were moved further away to help separate the items being dumped from the recycling bins with the goal of decreasing contamination. We have also increased the collection and cleanup at the recycling depot to six days per week.”
“The city continues to monitor these areas to better understand the movements of citizens utilizing the bins, and we will continue to work with the Diabetes Association to explore other opportunities to remedy the situation. They have indicated they still find it beneficial to have donation bins at the recycling depot, and they have agreed to daily site cleaning,” water and waste operations department added.
An impromptu ride-by the morning of July 9 revealed a number of people and a truck working at this site to clean out bins and the recycling area. One person was also picking garbage in the grass directly behind the depot. However, an 8:30 p.m. drive-by on July 9 revealed that while the area was noticeably cleaner, a mattress had already been left at the Diabetes collection bins and several of the city's recycling blue bins were already full of cardboard.
The dedicated City of Saskatoon’s website page says there are three recycling depots in the city, including the one at Lawson.
Ward 5 Councillor Randy Donauer noted the city allows Diabetes Canada to use the space for their collection bins, which are also part of the other two community recycling depots at University Heights on Lowe Road behind Fire Station No. 9, and Lakewood, on McKercher Drive by the Lakewood Civic Centre.
Recycling helps to divert unwanted waste from ending up in the landfill, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the city noted. Recycling also helps to reduce the depletion of natural resources and prevent environmental degradation.
