Curbside Garbage (Black Cart)
What you can expect from us
- The City provides bi-weekly collections year-round. Check your Collection Calendar to confirm your pick-up day.
How you can help us
Please remember to check your collection schedule and review the following information to ensure your cart is collected:
- The cart is placed out for collection prior to 7 a.m. on your scheduled pickup day.
- There is at least 1.2 meters (4 feet) of clearance around all sides of the cart.
- The garbage is bagged and inside the cart, and the lid is closed.
- No prohibited materials, hazardous waste or liquids.
- New cart requests can be submitted once residents are living at their new address so the cart can be stored on the property immediately to avoid theft and bylaw infractions.
What goes in your black cart?
Use your black cart for normal household garbage including non-recyclable waste such as Styrofoam, diapers and wipes. All food and most yard waste can go in your green cart. Use the Waste Wizard tool below to find out what goes in your black cart.
Rates & Fees
The monthly utility rates for the black cart program are approximately as follows: small (120 L) cart - $3.73, medium (240 L) - $7.05 and large (360 L) - $10.58. A more detailed look at the cart sizes is included here.
What are the cart sizes?
- Small (120L)
- Medium (240L)
- Large (360L)
How can I request a smaller cart?
If you would like to change your black cart size, you can request a smaller cart through My Utility Account or calling a Corporate Revenue Customer Service Representative at 306-975-2400. A more detailed look at the cart sizes is included here. A $30 cart swap fee for upsizing carts will apply in 2025.
If you live in a complex with that holds a single utility account with the City, please work with your property manager and/or condo board to complete cart swap requests (more information is available below).
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I pick the wrong black cart size?
We encourage residents to do a household waste audit to really evaluate what their waste needs are before downsizing to a cart. If you're using your Green Cart, chances are you've already noticed a change in how full your Black Cart is.
A $30 cart swap fee for upsizing carts will apply in 2025.
How can I perform a household waste audit?
When deciding on cart size, consider the following:
- What volume of garbage bags do you use (check the box they came in)?
- How many garbage bags do you place in the black cart every two weeks?
- Use the volume of the bags along with the number of bags to determine the volume of garbage your house typically produces in one collection period.
- ie 45 L bag X 5 bags is 225 L, which means you could choose the 240 L or stay with the 360 L. The 120 L would be too small in this example.
Why are these changes being made?
On September 26, 2022 City Council approved the recommendation by the Administration to implement Option 1: A variable cart utility including three cart options for the black cart garbage utility, with implementation funded through borrowing against the future utility.
On November 21, 2022, City Council approved the recommendation by the Administration to implement a low-income subsidy ($100.00) for the waste utility, starting in fiscal year 2024.
On September 27, 2023 City Council approved details on black cart size options, timelines and proposed rates for the garbage utility in 2024.
Admin Report & Attachments
Variable Black Cart Utility Model Options
2024 Curbside Garbage Utility Implementation and Proposed Rates
Considerations and Options for Supporting Low-Income Households
What is the monthly utility fee used for?
The monthly fee covers:
- Collection of garbage from your home and container management
- Processing (landfilling)
- Education, bylaw and program support
- Debt repayment for smaller carts
What are the dimensions of the carts?
| Size | Height | Width | Depth |
|
Small |
95 cm 38 in |
50 cm 20 in |
61 cm 24 in |
|
Medium |
106 cm 42 in |
62 cm 24 in |
80 cm 32 in |
|
Large (current) |
111 cm 44 in |
76 cm 30 in |
90 cm 36 in |
How do I know what size my current cart is?
Most existing inventory of black carts are 360L (large). Due to different vendors, the carts may look different from one another and slightly differ in size. The best way to check what size of cart you have is to look on the top for imprinted writing in a small box near the bottom of the lid, above the handle. A small amount of 240 L (medium) carts were previously available to residents. Sizes will either be 360 L / 96 gallons or 240 L / 64 gallons.
Why was my small cart not fully tipped?
We encourage residents to try the small cart for a couple collections to see what works. Adjusting to your smaller cart may take some time.
The small cart is designed for 2-3 45L kitchen garbage bags. If materials are packed too tightly in the cart, they will not fall out of the cart during pickup. Please do not overfill, wedge or overpack the waste into the carts. If possible, store materials until next collection date.
Tips: Cut up large materials like furnace filters, use small kitchen bags and look at what materials can go into your blue and green cart.
What if my utility bill doesn't match my waste carts?
It is important residents review their utility bill to confirm their services. If the record doesn’t match billing, residents can contact Corporate Revenue Customer Service at 306-975-2400 or revenue@saskatoon.ca to review the property and update our records.
I am not sure if I could choose a smaller cart, how do I know how much garbage I produce?
When deciding on cart size, consider the following:
- What volume of garbage bags do you use (check the box they came in)?
- How many garbage bags do you place in the black cart every two weeks?
- Use the volume of the bags along with the number of bags to determine the volume of garbage your house typically produces in one collection period.
- ie 45 L bag X 5 bags is 225 L, which means you could choose the 240 L or stay with the 360 L. The 120 L would be too small in this example.
Also consider the following when deciding on cart size:
- Are there times of the year when you will have more garbage than normal such as a holiday, when guests are visiting, or after a seasonal cleaning? Consider what you will do with excess garbage during these times. Remember that loads of garbage under 150kg (330lbs) brought to the landfill are only changed a $15 entrance fee.
How can I reduce my garbage to reduce the monthly fee?
Here are some simple tips to help reduce waste:
Maximize the Use of your Blue and Green Carts
- Recycle: Find the full recycling program guidelines at saskatoon.ca/recycling
- Compost: All food and most yard waste can be put in your green cart
- Ask the Wizard! Visit saskatoon.ca/wastewizard or download the Saskatoon Waste app and search for any item to get diversion or disposal options.
Material Recovery Centre
City residents can drop off recycling, small appliances, batteries, oil and anti-freeze, electronics, metals, rimless tires, and bikes at the City’s Material Recovery Centre’s (MRC) Sort & Go area located next to the landfill (42 Valley Road). For more information visit saskatoon.ca/MRC.
Donate
Gently used items can be rehomed rather than discarded as garbage. Consider participating in the Saskatoon Curbside Swap. Find details at saskatoon.ca/curbsideswap. Alternatively, items may be donated to a local thrift store or reuse center, sold on an online selling platform, or recycled using a special recycling take-back program.
Ditch Disposable, Go Reusable
Such as a reusable set of utensils with a food container or keep a reusable bag on a keychain.
How will you support low-income households with this transition?
A transitional subsidy of $100 annually is now available to help minimize the financial impact on low-income households. This subsidy is available to eligible low-income households who have a City utility account in their name. For more details or to apply, visit saskatoon.ca/wastesubsidy.
The Waste Utility Subsidy will be available until the implementation of a broader Universal Low Income Subsidy program planned for approximately 2027.
What if I live in a townhouse or condo that holds a single utility account?
If you live in a townhouse or condo complex that holds a single utility account with the City, cart swap requests will be submitted as a group. Work with your condo board or property manager to determine which cart sizes will fit your needs.
Will multi-unit properties be included in the garbage utility?
Residents who use metal or communal garbage and recycling container(s) (typically those living in condos and apartments) are not affected by the utility changes. Operations of the multi-unit garbage program remain funded through property taxes in 2024. It includes weekly garbage collection and the metal garbage bin grant. A program design for multi-unit organics diversion is coming in 2024. As part of this work, a review of multi-unit garbage services (including funding model and service type) will also take place.
Will commercial businesses be included in the garbage utility?
No, commercial businesses are required to privately manage their own waste. The City of Saskatoon provided commercial garbage collected to external commercial customers through a fee for service model at rates outlined in the Waste Bylaw. Commercial businesses will benefit from the removal of curbside garbage collection from property taxes.
Home based businesses receiving residential waste collection will be transitioned to the garbage utility. Home-based businesses are responsible for managing any excess waste generated because of their business and may choose to obtain second cart at the higher rate to collect excess waste.
What happens to the larger/old carts after they are swapped?
Existing black carts are kept in the field unless residents request a smaller size. When a smaller cart is requested, a new cart will be deployed, the old cart retrieved, cleaned and put it into inventory for future use if it is still in good condition. This inventory from retrieved carts will help to reduce the need for future purchases of the large carts for those choosing to maintain the current size cart.
Customer Service
Report a missed garbage collection
For any other questions or requests, please contact Customer Care at 306-975-2476 or email.