SASKATOON – Loraas has agreed to accept organic waste materials at its facility in the Rural Municipality of Corman Park following the April 24 RM Council’s decision to deny the discretionary use application for Green Prairie Environmental's property in the same area. The latest move is part of the contingency plan in the city’s green cart contract with GPE.
Utilities & Environment General Manager Angela Gardiner said activating the pre-set contingency plan became necessary since the city must fulfil its contract requirements. She added that GPE would carry any extra cost of the contingency plan, not the city.
Following a public procurement, the city awarded a contract to GPE in September 2020 to provide organic processing services to support the city's Curbside Organics Program. GPE must be ready to receive materials on May 1, Monday, according to the contract terms.
Although GPE believed that its property, where it planned to process organic waste, was already within the approved RM zoning since GPE already operates a landfill at that location south of Saskatoon in the RM of Corman Park for the past nine years, the question of discretionary use arose when GPE applied to the RM for a routine building permit earlier this year.
The city has now finalised the contingency plan for green cart processing. Organic materials will be hauled to Loraas for processing on an interim basis as the city continues to work with GPE to confirm alternate plans to fulfil their requirements under the contract.
Residents should know the green cart collections will begin on Monday as planned. The city-wide green cart collection will alternate biweekly with the black cart collection, so residents should check their collection calendar.
All eligible households will have their green carts by the end of this week. If eligible families have not received their green cart or kitchen pail, they can contact Corporate Revenue at 306-975-2400.
For more information about green carts, visit saskatoon.ca/greencart, where residents can check their collection dates, print their calendars, or set collection reminders.
