Sarcan now taking flexible plastics and foam packaging at depots

Chip bags, foam takeout containers and pickle jars are among the new items that can now be brought to Sarcan locations across Saskatchewan.

Sarcan and SK Recycles announced Tuesday that flexible plastics, foam packaging, and non-deposit glass bottles and jars would be accepted at its locations.

Sarcan executive director Amy McNeil said that while people won't get rebates for these items, there is still value in bringing them in.

"When you're bringing them back, you're doing it to, you know, really express your responsibility to our planet, to the environment, to the beauty of our province and not for a monetary value," McNeil said at the announcement, held at the Sarcan's Kochar Avenue location in Saskatoon.

Some of the items now accepted at the 73 Sarcan depots across the province are:

• Flexible plastics: plastic bags, zipper lock pouches, crinkly wrappers and bags, and plastic protective packaging.

• Foam packaging: take-out containers, trays for meat, seafood or vegetables, and protective packaging for electronics or appliances. 

• Glass bottles and jars: bottles and jars for olive oil, pickles, jam, etc.

McNeil said the clear glass will stay in the province, be crushed at a facility in Moose Jaw and turned into small beads used primarily in reflective paint on highways.

Coloured glass goes to Airdrie, Alta., where it mostly gets turned into insulation.

SK Recycles is a provincial program formed as a result of new regulations from the Ministry of Environment for the management of household packaging and paper. 

"The regulations call for a full Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program where producers of these products, like manufacturers, brand owners and retailers, are financially and operationally responsible for managing household packaging and paper, from collection to recycling," SK Recycles said in a news release.

Sam Baker, vice president of operations of SK Recycles, said that over the next three years the organization will meet with First Nations, rural communities and other municipalities to design the rest of the program, which will be fully rolled out by the end of 2027.

SK Recycles also noted the items allowed at Sarcan with this expansion are not accepted by most household recycling bins.