Regina’s waste plan showing progress, challenges still remain: report

The City of Regina says its long-term waste plan is paying off, extending the landfill’s life to 2053, three years longer than expected. Damian Smith has more.

The City of Regina says its long-term waste strategy is delivering results — and could delay the need for a costly new landfill.

A new report heading to executive committee Wednesday outlines progress under Regina’s waste plan in 2024 and 2025, while also recommending a shift to reporting every two years instead of annually.

The report says the city’s landfill lifespan is now projected to last until 2053 — three years longer than previously expected — thanks to improved waste diversion and operational efficiencies. That extension could help delay major costs, with a new landfill estimated to cost between $50 million and $70 million while closing the current site is expected to total more than $40 million.

“2025 was actually the projected date where our landfill wouldn’t have capacity,” Mayor Chad Bachynski said. “Through the hard work of the team at the city as well as our residents who have helped with the diversion of products going to the landfill, it’s a citywide effort that we’ve seen to be able to extend the life.”

The report highlights major gains in waste diversion, particularly after the rollout of food and yard waste collection. Residential diversion has nearly doubled in recent years, rising from about 20 per cent to around 40 per cent. The city’s long-term goal is 65 per cent by 2030.

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However, challenges remain. Contamination in recycling has climbed to 18 per cent, and just over half of households regularly use the green cart program. Waste audits suggest diversion rates could reach as high as 70 per cent if materials were sorted correctly.

The City is also adjusting to Saskatchewan’s new “Extended Producer Responsibility” system, which shifts recycling costs from municipalities to producers — a change that has already reduced fees for residents.

How does Regina do when it comes to recycling?

The report outlines how Regina’s waste system has evolved over the past decade.

Recycling programs in Regina expanded between 2013 and 2015, followed by the introduction of bi-weekly winter garbage pickup in 2018. Organics programs began rolling out in 2019 and 2020, before expanding city-wide in 2023, at which point garbage collection also moved to a bi-weekly, year-round schedule.

More recently, the city has introduced a user-pay garbage system, the SortSmart rewards program, and a litter pilot project.

In 2025, 68,075 households were serviced, with an average of 42 kilograms of waste per household diverted at depots. Nearly 50,000 items were searched using the Waste Wizard tool, and more than 6,500 residents participated in city programs. Additionally, 38 per cent of households are now using smaller garbage carts.

The report also highlights ongoing issues with improper sorting. Food waste accounts for 43 per cent of wrong items placed in bins, followed by non-recyclable plastics at 18 per cent and diapers and other plastics at 5 per cent.

“So, we’re seeing great waste diversion and operations to divert that cost into the future,” said Kurtis Doney, the deputy city manager of city operations.

Compared to other cities in 2024, Regina sent less waste to landfill per household than both Saskatoon and Lethbridge, while also leading in waste diversion — though its overall diversion rate sits in the middle.

The report concludes that while the city has made significant progress, better sorting remains key to further improvements.

What education efforts did the city implement?

Education continues to play a major role in improving Regina’s waste system, but issues remain.

More than 13,000 residents were reached through in-person education efforts in 2024 and 2025, including over 4,000 students through school programs. The city also introduced classroom lesson plans to help teachers incorporate waste education year-round.

“Our focus in the short term is definitely on reducing the recycling of contamination,” said Doney. “So, we’re at that 18 per cent right now, we want to see that down to 6 per cent or lower. Something that maybe in terms of education going forward, I know obviously there’s been lots of work has been done to just make sure that everyone’s kind of sorting in the correct manner.”

“We’re trying to be effective in diversion, so proper allocation in the right bins is a big [thing],” said Bachynski. “So, that educational component for residents is big to make sure that they’re aware.”

Public outreach included new sorting guides delivered to more than 68,000 households, along with social media campaigns, billboards, and digital tools like the Waste Wizard. Despite these efforts, contamination in recycling remains high.

The city has also introduced incentives to encourage better habits, including a user-pay system and the SortSmart rewards program, which offers prizes — including the chance to win back annual waste fees. The report says about 72 per cent of households are sorting correctly, but more than one in four still make mistakes. Officials say improving participation remains one of the biggest factors in boosting diversion rates.

Three pilot projects, mixed results

The feedback from Regina’s litter pilot projects showcased mix results with no single solution working for every neighbourhood.

Residents who took part in front street collection and locking cart trials reported less scavenging and reduced litter in some cases — particularly when carts were secured. However, others reported little to no change, and some even saw increased litter, especially with front street pickup.

The report notes practical challenges, including carts being left unsecured and difficulties with certain street layouts. Many residents also cited illegal dumping by people outside the neighbourhood as a major contributor to litter.

Suggestions from participants included expanding locking carts, adding more public garbage bins, increasing enforcement, and improving response to problem areas. Overall, locking carts received the most consistent positive feedback, while front street collection produced more mixed results depending on location.

What’s next?

Regina is updating its Solid Waste Management Plan for 2025–2028 to modernize policies and services for the next 25 years.

In 2026, the city will introduce an assisted waste collection program to support residents with mobility or medical challenges. Between 2026 and 2029, a targeted litter control program will be implemented in high-litter neighbourhoods based on findings from the 2025 Litter Free Lanes pilot.

Looking ahead, Regina is preparing for new federal methane regulations expected in 2028, with compliance costs estimated between $5 million and $20 million. To reduce emissions, the city plans to expand organics collection to multi-family buildings and businesses, a move expected to divert an additional 30,000 tonnes of waste annually and cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 13,000 tonnes each year.

Starting July 1, 2027, multi-family properties will be required to separate food and yard waste. That same year, the city will explore a horizontal gas well collection system at the landfill to further reduce emissions.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2028, industrial, commercial, and institutional properties must sort waste into three streams: recyclables, food and yard waste, and garbage. The city is also reviewing future requirements for construction and demolition waste.

Together, these initiatives aim to improve waste diversion, reduce contamination, and ensure Regina’s waste system remains sustainable for decades to come.