Items now accepted at SARCAN depots include a variety of plastics, glass jars and foam packaging. (Shane Clausing/650 CKOM)

By Daniel Reech - CKOM News

Recycling

SARCAN Recycling now accepting variety of plastics, glass and foam packaging

Dec 8, 2024 | 6:19 PM

SARCAN Recycling is expanding the list of items it will accept at all 73 SARCAN depots across the province.

The Saskatchewan-based recycling depot is now accepting flexible plastics like plastic bags, crinkly wrappers and protective packaging, as well as stand up and zipper-lock pouches.

Additionally, it will also accept foam packaging and glass bottles and jars.

The initiative is being launched in partnership with non-profit SK Recycles.

“This is tremendously exciting for us at SARCAN for many, many reasons,” said Amy McNeil, executive director of SARC and SARCAN. SARC is the parent organization of SARCAN.

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“Number one, we want to provide solutions for people in Saskatchewan. People come to SARCAN Recycling, want solutions and want to be responsible citizens of this province.

“And so SARCAN really wants to continue to grow and expand the materials that we collect within our depots so that we can be a one-stop shop, basically, for you to bring your recycling materials in.”

McNeil added that SARCAN wants to make it easy for people to recycle in Saskatchewan.

Plastic items in recycling bag at a SARCAN depot. (Shane Clausing/650 CKOM)

While SARCAN provides rebates for people who submit cans and bottles, McNeil said no rebates will be provided for plastic items because no deposit is paid by the consumer upon purchase.

“When you’re bringing them back, you’re doing it to really express your responsibility to our planet, to the environment, to the beauty of our province and not for a monetary value, but more for an intrinsic value of doing the right thing,” she said.

McNeil said SARCAN opened in 1988 with a focus on recycling beverage containers, but over the years it has diversified to electronics, paints and even household batteries.

McNeil said SK Recycles approached SARCAN for the partnership.

SARCAN’s Amy McNeil said the organization wants to make it easier for people to recycle. (Shane Clausing/650 CKOM)

Sam Baker, VP of operations at SK Recycles, said the initiative was born out of updated recycling regulations from Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Environment in 2023.

The new regulations superseded 2016 regulations which made producers cover up to 75 per cent of the cost of the program. They are now required to cover the whole cost.

“We are already engaged with municipalities across the province through two working groups that we’ve established to understand what the next three years will look like as we roll this program out further and further,” Baker said.

Baker said broken glass will be accepted over the counter.

McNeil urged people to clean their materials before submitting them for recycling, and depots will not accept wrapping paper and should check their local blue cart programs for options.

A full list of what is recyclable at SARCAN depots is available on its website.

— with files from 650 CKOM’s Shane Clausing