Landfill Airspace
Status: Needs Improving
Landfill airspace is the volume of space on a landfill site permitted for disposal of municipal solid waste. It is comparable to the finite amount of volume in a bathtub or water bottle, and we fill it up a little more each day.
The amount of landfill airspace used each year depends on several factors, including the amount of residential and commercial garbage brought to the landfill, and operations such as compaction and daily cover.
Based on the five-year average of airspace consumption, the City's landfill can accept garbage for an estimated 46 to 54 years. Landfill operating life can be extended through additional waste diversion programs and operational improvements.
The City's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan includes the following key action within the Environmental Sustainability priority area:
- Implement actions in the Solid Waste Reduction and Diversion Plan within proposed timelines to achieve 70% diversion from the Saskatoon Landfill.
Where are we now?
There is an estimated 6,500,000 cubic metres of airspace remaining in the landfill*. In 2024, we used approximately 112,000 cubic metres of airspace.
*requires the construction of additional infrastructure to reach final design
Data Table
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total waste buried (tonnes) | 99,811 | 94,772 | 96,185 | 94,067 | 93,394 | 93,394 | 92,021 | 78,494 | 78,197 |
| Landfill Airspace consumed (m3) | 133,082 | 126,363 | 128,246 | 125,423 | 125,191 | 115,468 | 114,205 | 93,649 | 111,993 |
| Landfill Airspace remaining (m3) | 7,020,360 | 6,904,892 | 6,790,687 | 6,697,038 | 6,585,045 |
*In 2024, total airspace consumed from landfilled waste and relocated waste from construction activity.
Source: City of Saskatoon – Sustainability and Water & Waste Operations Departments
Did You Know?
The City's landfill received over 87,000 vehicle visits in 2020.