The City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is moving ahead with plans for an expansion of its existing landfill. City Council recently approved plans for expansion estimated at $31.3 million.
With the capacity of the existing landfill space, Council decided on the expansion. With the expansion, combined with planned waste diversion activities, the landfill could last another 50 years.
Besides landfill expansion, the monies will be used in the development of recycling area called Recovery Park. The Park will include new weigh scales, a space for recycling construction and demolition waste, a household hazardous waste collection depot, composting, recycling and a gently used item exchange.
In 2016, The City of Saskatoon worked with a consultant to characterize the composition of waste actually going to landfills. The resulting study found that the Saskatoon’s landfilled waste streams were made up largely of materials that should be diverted away from landfills. Overall, 17% of the waste headed for landfills was recyclable, and 32% was food and yard waste that could be composted or handled in some other appropriate way. Thus, approximately half the waste going to landfills could be diverted. This amount is in addition to the 23 percent that is already being diverted. Saskatoon City Council has set a target of 70% waste diversion by 2023.
