SARCAN closed its doors March 21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the first day of reopening, customers lined up to recycle the cans, bottles and drink containers they accumulated. (980 CJME file photo)

By CJME News

Expect lineups to continue at SARCAN facilities, spokesperson says

Jul 13, 2020 | 6:38 PM

SARCAN is making massive payments thanks to what’s being described as an unprecedented volume of recyclables being returned.

Since reopening in mid-June, the company has been paying out an average of $1.8 million per week, according to spokesperson Sean Homenick.

“(There are) really, really, really huge amounts of bottles and cans coming in throughout the province,” he told the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Monday.

SARCAN closed its facilities across Saskatchewan in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the weeks since the facilities reopened, Homenick said there have been long lineups — some of which have been lasting all day.

“People are still lined up. It has been wild. The lines just have not died down in Saskatoon or Regina or any of the big cities like Moose Jaw and P.A. We will still have lineups this week,” he said.

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Staff members at the recycling facilities are handling the rush well, he added.

“There’s a lot of overtime being worked. We’re bringing in some extra help too. Everybody’s doing pretty good with it,” Homenick said.

“No matter who I talk talk to across the province, it’s nothing like we’ve ever seen before, whether you’ve been with us for five years or 35 years.”