Transitioning to Full EPR
From 2024 to 2027, Saskatchewan communities will transition to a full extended producer responsibility program for household packaging and paper, joining the SK Recycles program.
Finding ways to reduce waste is an increasingly important part of minimizing our impact on the environment. Recycling diverts waste from landfills, conserves resources and energy, and feeds the ever-growing green economy.
SK Recycles will partner with local governments and private companies to ensure materials are collected from homes. SK Recycles is also partnering with local organizations to set up a network of facilities to receive and process these materials. Through these partnerships, SK Recycles will be responsible for everything from collection and sorting to processing and selling the materials to end markets.
Here's what residents and communities can expect leading up to 2027:
New Materials Accepted for Recycling Starting December 1, 2024
Starting December 1, 2024, residents can bring non-deposit glass bottles and jars, flexible plastics, and foam packaging to a SARCAN depot for recycling by SK Recycles.
Consistent List of Accepted Materials
SK Recycles has created a province-wide list of accepted materials. As communities join the program, they'll be able to recycle everything on this list, including new items for home recycling and recycling at SARCAN depots.
Provincial Post-Collection System
Once packaging and paper are collected from homes or SARCAN depots, they'll be managed by SK Recycles province-wide system, making the process more efficient and environmentally effective.
Material Tracking System
After joining the SK Recycles program, the materials collected will be tracked using a province-wide reporting system. This ensures we know how much is collected and where it goes - from homes through to sale to end markets to be made into new packaging and products.
Transition Timeline
The transition from the current Multi-Material Stewardship Western shared-responsibility program to a full EPR system, entirely managed and operated by SK Recycles on behalf of its producer members, will take place in three phases starting December 1, 2024, with the transition anticipated to be complete by the end of 2027.
SK Recycles is actively engaging with community partners and has established a dedicated working group for each Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the transition.
