The Star Phoenix

The first pickup of recycling material from apartments and townhouses in Saskatoon is scheduled to happen Friday on a limited basis.

The first bins were delivered on Monday for the start of a program that divided Saskatoon city council, with some councillors questioning the financial sense and others wanting to build on the city’s relationship with Cosmopolitan Industries, which provides work in recycling for people with cognitive disabilities.

“As with all things, as soon as something’s on the ground, people will use it,” said Brenda Wallace, the city’s director of environmental and corporate initiatives. “To be honest, it’s actually been a little quicker than expected.”

The nine-year, $21.5-million contract with Cosmo does not officially start until Nov. 1 and the first collection was not expected to happen until Wednesday.

Cosmo has subcontracted the delivery of bins and the pickup of recycling to Emterra, which opened a single-bin recycling facility in Regina in 2013.

Continue reading at The Star Phoenix