Town of Kindersley council agrees to new recycling program

By Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Your West Central Voice

KINDERSLEY — Town of Kindersley residents will soon be part of a new provincial recycling program, although they are unlikely to notice any change in service.

Town council approved a curbside collection agreement with SK Recycles during its regular meeting on July 13.

Director of Infrastructure and Development Chad Levitt told council Kindersley has participated in the current recycling program since 2016, which provided shared funding to help cover program costs.

However, Saskatchewan is transitioning to an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model for household packaging and paper recycling. Under the new system, the companies that produce packaging will assume responsibility for funding the collection and recycling of those materials.

Levitt said the transition will not affect residents' recycling service.

"Our taxpayers won't see any change in service," he told council.

He added the new funding model would benefit the community.

"The way community recycling is funded will change ... for the better," Levitt said.

According to its website, SK Recycles is a non-profit organization responsible for managing and recycling household packaging and paper distributed to Saskatchewan residents by businesses.

"Working with producers, collectors, municipalities, First Nations, Métis communities, and residents, SK Recycles ensures household materials are collected from households and depots, sorted and responsibly recycled," the organization states. "Our program is funded by over 550 businesses that include retailers, manufacturers and restaurants that supply packaging and paper to Saskatchewan residents, shifting costs away from homeowners."

The province began rolling out the EPR program in 2025.

The agreement approved by council confirms recyclable materials will continue to be collected from residential properties at the curb. It also allows for industrial, commercial and institutional collection where applicable.

The agreement states that where automated carts are used, the amount of material collected may be limited to what can reasonably fit inside the cart. Collection will occur no more frequently than weekly and no less frequently than every two weeks, although schedules may be adjusted for holidays or special events.

Council unanimously approved signing the curbside recycling agreement with SK Recycles.