WHEREAS the problems of recycling are far reaching and costly;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of Saskatchewan pay for advertisements that promote recycling, search for end users of recycled product, pay an appropriate share of the costs of recycling and work to ensure municipalities recycle whenever possible; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Government of Saskatchewan raise the deposit on present returnable items and include all plastic, glass, tin and aluminum containers in the deposit program.

Response from Honourable Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister of Environment:

With the recent announcement of the Multi-Material Recycling Program (MMRP), municipalities that have a recycling program will be able to access up to 75 per cent of the costs of their program once MMRP is operational. The Ministry of Environment will encourage municipalities to participate in MMRP and this program will include an educational and awareness/promotional component.

There are currently no plans to increase the deposit rate on beverage containers. The Beverage Container Collection and Recycling Program will continue as MMRP is implemented and no negative impacts on the deposit-based beverage container recycling program are anticipated. With MMRP being implemented, we do not anticipate the need for expanding the deposit refund system to other types of containers.

The provincial government currently has a contractual agreement with the Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres (SARC) and SARCAN Recycling for delivery of the province's Beverage Container Collection and Recycling Program, which includes operating depots for the collection of designated beverage containers and providing container deposit refunds to the public. This agreement is evaluated on a regular basis to ensure it remains financially viable so that Saskatchewan residents
continue to reap the environmental and social benefits generated by this partnership.

View updated response dated June 6, 2017 from Ministry of Environment