Saskatonians have another option for getting rid of difficult-to-dump items. The City of Saskatoon has opened a facility called the Material Recovery Centre (MRC), formerly known as the Recovery Park Landfill expansion. It’s located on Valley Road at the entrance to the municipal landfill, also known as the Saskatoon Regional Waste Management Facility. The city says the centre is a “major achievement” as it works toward its 70 per cent waste diversion goal. “We are thrilled to open the Material Recovery Centre and offer residents of Saskatoon a one-stop waste drop-off location,” said Brendan Lemke, the city’s director of water and waste operations, in a release. “With more items with free drop-off and reduced rates for other recyclable materials, we anticipate diverting up to 3,500 tonnes of waste annually that would have otherwise ended up in the landfill.”

The MRC is now open to the public and offers free drop-off for many recyclable items and a new access point for scaled waste. At the MRC’s Sort & Go free drop-off, residents can bring in recycling, small appliances, batteries, oil and anti-freeze, electronics, metals, rimless tires and bicycles. Other appliances can also be dropped off with a $20 fee charged for those containing refrigerant. The MRC continues to accept non-recyclable waste including garbage and elm wood through its Scale & Pay program. A reduced disposal rate is charged for concrete and brick, which will be diverted.

For more information on the Material Recovery Centre, including hours of operation and a detailed list of acceptable items and rates, visit saskatoon.ca/mrc.

-Joanne Paulson