Cart Care
New Black Cart Sizes
The first cart swap request period has closed. Smaller carts will be delivered April through June. Details are being finalized. For updates, visit saskatoon.ca/blackcart.
Cart Collection Overview
- Garbage (black cart), recycling (blue cart) and curbside organics (green cart) are collected bi-weekly from all single family households.
- Check your collection calendar for your collection day and schedule.
Sizes and Types of Carts
Homes with curbside (cart-based) collection areas have:
- 1 black garbage cart (120L, 240L, or 360L)
- 1 blue recycling cart (360L),
- 1 green organics cart (360L).
Proper cart care and placement are the key to successful collections.
Cart Labelling and Identification
The City encourages residents to label their garbage (black), recycling (blue), and organics (green) carts with their home address in order to identify them after severe storms, construction, or theft.
- Markers or Paint Pens (temporary): Paint pens, waxed markers, or tire markers that are white (or high contrast) will all do the trick. No liquid or spray paint. Use a stencil or freehand and ensure the numbers are 6–8" high to optimize readability.
- Stickers: Make sure they have vinyl or waterproof coating and will stick to textured plastic.
Home numbers are to be displayed on the designed white area on the front of new carts. If your cart does not have this area, use the flat portion on the front of your cart or the bottom portion of the side of your cart; excluding the lid or back. Please refrain from obstructing cart logos, serial numbers, warning labels, or other cart information as it must be visible to collection staff at all times. Only use the approved labelling methods and do not physically alter the cart (e.g. branding, melting, scraping).
Verify your cart: Provide the serial number (on front of cart) or your home address to:
- City of Saskatoon (black and green carts): 306-975-2476
- Loraas Recycle (blue carts): 306-242-2300
Waste Bylaw #9844 prohibits tampering with the carts and their contents wherever they may be found.
Setting Out Carts
General Guidelines
- Cart lids must be COMPLETELY closed and in an upright position to prevent windblown litter. Waste outside of your cart will not be collected.
- Collection times vary. Set out your cart no later than 7 a.m. on your collection day.
- Place your cart so there is at least 1.2 meters (4 feet) of space on all sides between your cart and all obstacles (cars, other carts, fence).
- Your cart must not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Place your cart on even surfaces to prevent it from tipping over.
- Return your cart to your property by 7 p.m. on collection day to prevent fines, theft, or damage to your cart.
Front Street
- Place your cart on the street with wheels facing the curb in front of your residence in which the cart is assigned.
- Carts should not be placed on the sidewalk or blocking your neighbour's driveway.
- For winter collections, residents are responsible for clearing snow (natural or from grading) and debris. Do no place carts on top of snowbanks.
Back Lane
- Place your cart in the designated collection area on the edge of the lane with wheels facing the fence behind the residence in which the cart is assigned. Please watch for low overhead utility lines.
- Do not block the lane. Do not restrict access to your neighbour’s driveway or gate.
- For winter collections, residents are responsible for clearning and snow or debris that would interfere with the safe collection. Carts placed on top of snowbanks cannot be collected safely.
Cul-De-Sac
- All carts must be arranged in the center of the cul-de-sac facing the same direction with at least 4ft (2m) between them to ensure collection.
- For winter collections, the City's snow clearing efforts can sometimes present obstacles for effective waste collections. Each cul-de-sac and “City” snow pile placement is unique, so residents are asked to decide which option best suits their scenario. Please place carts all in one area, either in front of or beside the snow pile, facing in the same direction.
*Note: Property owners are not permitted to place their private property snow on the roadway.
Cart Storage
- Carts must be stored on your property only and clear of roadways, sidewalks, back lanes, boulevards and other municipal property.
Living with Carts
Broken Carts
Submit a cart repair request for the following types of damage:
- Missing or damaged wheels
- Cracked or damaged cart body
- Cracked or damaged lids
Repairs are generally completed within 2 weeks of your request and completed after the collection day. Repairs are free when resulting from normal wear and tear, or an incident beyond your control.
If you would like to submit a cart repair request, please call:
- City of Saskatoon (black and green carts): 306-975-2476 or use the cart request form or garbage@saskatoon.ca
- Loraas Recycle (blue carts): 306-242-2300
Missing, Lost or Stolen Carts
Extreme weather, mechanical failures, and lane conditions may disrupt collection. Please remember to watch for service alerts that may affect collection on your route. If there was no service alert issued and your cart was still not collected, please call:
- City of Saskatoon (black and green carts): 306-975-2476 or use the cart request form or garbage@saskatoon.ca
- Loraas Recycle (blue carts): 306-242-2300
New Homes
Moving into a new home in Saskatoon? Getting carts is easy. The process may depend if you are moving into a newly constructed home or existing home.
For newly constructed homes
- Call Corporate Revenue at 306-975-2400 up to two weeks before your move-in date to determine eligibility and turn on services
- Carts are provided at no charge and will be delivered within 1-2 business days
- You will receive:
- 1 black garbage cart (120L, 240L, or 360L)
- 1 blue recycling cart (360L),
- 1 green organics cart (360L).
- Your recycling and organics services are paid through a monthly utility fee, which appears on your utility bill. The service begins when you receive the cart.
For existing homes
- Call Corporate Revenue at 306-975-2400 once you’ve moved in to turn on service
- An existing home should already have carts left behind by the previous owners. This includes:
- 1 large (360 L) black garbage cart,
- 1 large (360 L) blue recycling cart,
- 1 large (360 L) green organics cart.
If any of your carts are missing, the previous owners may have mistakenly taken them. Report your cart(s) as lost using the cart request form. Your replacement cart(s) will be delivered to your address within 5-7 business days.
Additional Carts
Single-family homes may request additional carts through the waste utility. Additional carts for blue or green carts are charged at the same rate as the first cart and fees are applied as a multiplier based on the number of carts on the utility bill. The additional black cart is charged at a rate of $15.52 per cart per month. Submit a request for additional carts by calling Corporate Revenue at 306-975-2400.
Frequently Asked Questions
My cart wasn't emptied on my collection day. What should I do?
Extreme weather, mechanical failures, and lane conditions may disrupt collection. Please remember to watch for service alerts that may affect collection on your route. If there was no service alert issued and your cart was still not collected, please call:
- City of Saskatoon (black and green carts): 306-975-2476 or use the online form
- Loraas Recycle (blue carts): 306-242-2300
What if I put my cart(s) in the wrong place?
If your cart is located in the wrong place, it may not be emptied on schedule. Refer to the illustrations and examples on this page to ensure that your carts are properly placed for collection.
What if I’m going to be away when my cart is collected?
If you know you’re going to be away when your cart is scheduled for collection, ask a neighbour or someone else to roll it out for pick-up and return it to your yard or garage by 7 p.m. to prevent fines and theft. Excess recycling can be taken to a City Recycling Depot or Loraas Recycle at no additional cost.
What should I do if someone has dumped or gone through my cart(s)?
Your carts have been assigned to your household and are your responsibility. Damaging or tampering with carts, and adding or removing materials other than your own, is an offense under the Waste Bylaw #9488 and may result in fines.
- Scavenging can be reported by calling the 24/7 Customer Service Centre at 306-975-2476
- If you witness scavenging try to get photos and/or video that will provide valuable information. Please only do this if it is safe to do so.
- Write down as much information as you can including:
- Licence plate number and description of the vehicle
- Description of the people involved
- Time, date and location of the incident
My normal regular pick up falls on a statutory holiday. Do I still put out my cart?
Refer to your Collection Calendar for your scheduled days, including holidays.
Can I opt out of a cart program?
Waste management and diversion are community-wide issues, which require community-wide solutions. We need all residents to recycle and compost. Universal participation in diversion programs is essential to reducing waste going to landfill and to achieve our goal of 70% waste diversion.
Research has shown that optional municipal programs cost more, have a lower participation rate and do not achieve the same level of diversion as universal programs. The utility fee is applied to all eligible households so that everyone shares in the cost. This keeps the program affordable for everyone.
Residents can choose to opt-out of green or blue cart collection and refuse their cart, however the fee will remain. Submit a cart refusal by calling Corporate Revenue at 306-975-2400.
Report a missed garbage collection
Cart Placement Illustrations
Around snow piles:
Swipe through the gallery below to find the illustration that matches your collection scenario.