1. Services for Residents
  2. Waste & Recycling
  3. Recycling
  4. Recycling Depots

Recycling Depots

 recycling depot

Saskatoon residents can use the City’s three recycling depots for the same materials accepted in the residential recycling programs. Materials from the depots are collected regularly and taken to Cosmopolitan Industries for sorting. The sorted material is then bailed and shipped to local or world markets where it is transformed into a usable product. Additionally, local charities collect gently used clothing in bins at the three depots. 

Recycling helps our city to divert unwanted waste from ending up in the landfill, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  Recycling helps to reduce the depletion of our natural resources and prevent environmental degradation.

Locations

  1. Lawson Heights – Primrose Drive by the Lawson Civic Centre
  2. University Heights – Lowe Road behind Fire Station #9
  3. Lakewood – McKercher Drive by the Lakewood Civic Centre

Partner Locations

  1. Cosmopolitan Industries - 1300 block Ontario Ave.
  2. Loraas Recycle - 1902 1st Ave. North

Cosmopolitan Industries and Loraas Recycle also accept commercial recycling.

Hours of operation

  • 24 Hours, 7 Days a Week (Except for Lakewood Depot - Operating hours 7am-7pm Daily)

Tips

  • Your clean recyclable material can be tossed loosely into the recycle bin (no bagging except as noted below).   
  • Place shredded paper in a clear, tied plastic bag.
  • Remove caps from milk jugs and beverage containers, give them a quick rinse, flatten them, and they'll be ready to recycle
  • Flatten all cardboard boxes.
  • Depots are for residential use only (not for Commercial use).
Acceptable Items

Paper Products

  • Paper and cardboard
  • Newspapers, flyers, junk mail
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Empty cereal, cookie and cracker boxes (remove liners)
  • Magazines, catalogues, paperback books
  • Telephone books
  • Kleenex boxes, toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls
  • Copier paper
  • Shredded paper (in a clear, tied plastic bag)
  • Clean pizza boxes
  • Paper egg cartons

Plastic containers

  • All food and household plastic containers # 1-7
  • Laundry jugs and milk jugs 
  • Juice and drink boxes
  • Shampoo, conditioner and mouthwash bottles
  • Cleaning product bottles
  • Take-out containers, bakery and produce containers (called clam shells)
  • Yogurt, sour cream and margarine containers
  • Planting trays and flower pots
  • Lids from coffee cups

Foil and cans

  • Metal cans
  • Soft drink cans
  • Aluminum trays and foil (clean)
  • Pet food cans
  • Jar lids

 Household glass

  • Wine, spirit and beer bottles
  • Food jars - lids off 
Not Accepted
  • Plastic COVID-19 Barriers (acrylic): ​While this material does fall under #7 plastics, it is not marketable; therefore it is considered garbage. Flexible plastic sheets or screens are also considered garbage. If you choose to remove your barriers, anything larger than 2 ft x 2 ft must be taken to the landfill or reused for alternative purposes.
  • Polycoat (paper coffee cups, ice cream cartons, to-go soup containers)
  • Black Plastics (takeout containers, coffee cup lids)
  • Plastic Film (Grocery bags, Plastic wrap, Soft/stretchy plastics)
  • Food contaminated paper or cardboard
  • Waxed or plasticized paper
  • Diapers
  • Soiled Kleenex, napkins and paper towels
  • Styrofoam
  • Plastic toys, Tupperware or other plastics without a #1-7 symbol
  • Motor oil containers
  • Anything smaller than a credit card is too small to be sorted by recycling equipment
  • Needles
  • Outdoor lawn furniture
  • Pyrex or dishware glass
  • Windows or mirrors
  • Ceramics or porcelain
  • Hazardous materials, such as needles and propane tanks are accepted NOT in the recycling bins.  They pose a danger to staff and can impact the efficiency of the recycling process.
  • Electronics or Paint are NOT accepted in the recycling bins. Most of these items can be taken to SARCAN.
  • For information on the proper disposal of light bulbs, clothing, food waste, tires and microwaves, visit the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council.
Recycling Guides (various languages)

Download or print a recycling quick-reference guide for helpful tips and to find out what is and is not recyclable in Saskatoon.

Arabic Recycling Guide
Chinese Recycling Guide
Cree Recycling Guide
English Recycling Guide
French Recycling Guide
Korean Recycling Guide
Punjabi Indian Recycling Guide
Punjabi Pakistan Recycling Guide
Spanish Recycling Guide
Urdu Recycling Guide
Vietnamese Recycling Guide

Rate and Fees

The City's Recycling Depots are funded through your property taxes. 

Illegal Dumping

Report illegal dumping or damage to City property by submitting the online form or call 306-975-2486.