Background

Regina (pop. 193,100), the capital of the Canadian prairie province of Saskatchewan, is a growing metro area in central Canada. Now, to pair with that growth, Regina is introducing curbside recycling in July 2013 to all residents currently receiving trash service. This new curbside service, which will utilize single-stream rolling blue carts, is just the first in a multiple-step process to paint the city in a greener hue. By 2016, multifamily curbside recycling, curbside yard waste collection and bulky waste collection programs will be in place. The city is also prepping a household hazardous waste program that will debut by that deadline. Recycling service will be mandatory, as Regina aims to divert 40% of its landfill waste by 2015.

Materials recycled

Paper Corrugated cardboard, paperboard containers, drink cartons and all sorts of mixed paper products are accepted. Plastics Plastic bottles and containers (no lids) are accepted. Metals Aluminum cans and bottles and steel/tin containers are accepted. Glass Glass food and beverage containers are accepted.

Frequency

Recycling is collected on a biweekly basis. Regina residents will be notified of their regular day of pick-up before service begins. Carts must be placed curbside no later than 7:30 a.m. day of pick-up, and must be returned to property no later than 7 p.m. on collection day. Allow for 1 meter (approximately 3 feet) clearance on either side of the cart.

Other programs

Regina’s longstanding Big Blue Bin paper recycling drop-off program will continue as the new curbside service is rolled out. Started in 1991, the Big Blue Bin is a community receptacle that accepts newspapers, flattened cardboard boxes, flattened paperboard, catalogs, magazines, flyers, telephone books and paper. The city operates 13 drop-off locations around town. To date, the Big Blue Bins have saved approximately 420,000 trees, more than twice the amount found in the entire city of Regina. Clean glass containers (without lids or caps) can be dropped off for free at the City of Regina Landfill (on Fleet Street just north of McDonald Street in northeast Regina) for recycling. The landfill operates 7 to 7 daily from April to October, and 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday from November to March. White goods, such as stoves, refrigerators and ovens, are also recycled at the landfill using a process that extracts Freon and other toxicants from the appliances. The scrap is then sold to local dealers. Christmas trees are collected to be recycled into mulch each January. Residents can drop off trees at the City of Regina Landfill from January 1 to February 1. From January 7 to January 29, residents can drop off at the following locations 24 hours a day: the Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre (3130 E. Woodhams Dr.), Optimist Arena (222 Sunset Dr.), Joanne Goulet Golf Club (8045 Kestal Dr.), and the City of Regina Container Shop (500 Arcola Ave.).

More information

Visit the City of Regina Curbside Recycling website for more recycling program info.