Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council

Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to helping Saskatchewan Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Strategic Priority Goals

- A Strong Community: SWRC is a key player in bringing together a strong waste-focused community. We provide information to the public about recycling, provide current information to our members and advocate for waste reduction in the province.

- Organics: SWRC is a leader in the discussion about food waste prevention. We are seen as a key resource on backyard composting

and as knowledgeable about larger-scale organic waste management solutions. Every Saskatchewan community has provisions for some type of organic waste diversion.

- Source Reduction: SWRC facilitates the adoption of reduction and reuse practices. Across Saskatchewan there is recognition of the need to prioritize reduction and reuse over recycling, with an emphasis on the value of these practices compared to wasteful alternatives.

After touring the Saskatoon landfill and LORAAS organics facility, Naomi came away with one clear takeaway: we still hav...
06/09/2026

After touring the Saskatoon landfill and LORAAS organics facility, Naomi came away with one clear takeaway: we still have a plastic film problem. 🥲♻🗑🥲

Plastic bags and packaging were visible everywhere at the sites—from landfill fencing to compost piles. Yet for the first time, Saskatchewan residents DO have a practical way to recycle these materials (through the SK Recycles program at SARCANs).

Explore why plastic film has been such a challenge, what can now be recycled, and how one simple collection bag at home can significantly reduce household waste.

Read the full blog at: www.swrc.ca/the-bag-in-the-bag-saskatchewan-households-and-plastic-film-recycling/

Got a home compost question? SWRC can help!Visit www.swrc.ca/compost to find no-nonsense information on the basic recipe...
05/29/2026

Got a home compost question? SWRC can help!

Visit www.swrc.ca/compost to find no-nonsense information on the basic recipe for happy home compost (fast and not smelly). Plus a whole lot more:

🌼 Composting in 60 Seconds – how-to video series on the most common home compost methods

🍃 Dishing the Dirt – reporting on 25 different home compost methods

🍂 Countertop Composters infographic – what these electric appliances can and can’t do with food scraps

🍄 Vermicompost and bokashi fact sheets - indoor options for apartments, offices, and classrooms

Plus, if you’ve still got a specific compost question - send it to [email protected], or shoot us a message.

A warm welcome to our new Executive Director, Naomi Mihilewicz!Our sharper followers may recognize Naomi (the one on the...
05/22/2026

A warm welcome to our new Executive Director, Naomi Mihilewicz!

Our sharper followers may recognize Naomi (the one on the left) as the writer of our monthly Less is More blog. But Naomi has actually held many roles at the SWRC since joining us in 2007.

Naomi lives on an acreage south of Saskatoon with her husband, Kris, and their two kids. Their home is a lively one, shared with horses, dogs, cats, chickens—and, fittingly, more than one compost pile. She has a a lot of know-how in waste reduction, recycling, and composting, and likes to focus on practical, real-world solutions that work for communities and organizations alike.

Naomi is currently learning on-the-job, and will step fully into the role when Joanne retires at the end of June. 🥲

Welcome, Naomi!!!

A lot of donated clothing cannot be resold - help us understand *why.*👉Take the 10-minute survey: https://smuniversity.q...
05/15/2026

A lot of donated clothing cannot be resold - help us understand *why.*

👉Take the 10-minute survey: https://smuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJNpUReH13biI5M

Whether you are a regular donor of used clothes and other textiles (like sheets and towels) - or have never even set foot in a thrift shop - the NACTR wants to hear from you!

(That's the National Association for Charitable Textile Recycling - working alongside the University of Alberta.)

Plus, you can choose to enter for a chance to win a $100 gift card to a thrift store of your choice.

The numbers are in from our spring repair cafés - thank you to all the volunteers from North Battleford, Estevan, and We...
05/12/2026

The numbers are in from our spring repair cafés - thank you to all the volunteers from North Battleford, Estevan, and Weyburn that make these events a big success!

Across the 3 cities, we saw 83 items come in.
✅ 52 items got fixed then-and-there, for free.
📌 19 items weren't fixable on the spot, but volunteers advised where to go next.
☠ 12 items were toast.

For most popular kind of mending, it was a tie between 👚clothing/textiles and 🔌small appliances.

Has your community hosted a repair café yet - or are you interested? Let us know!

In this month's Less is More blog, Naomi ponders how expanding digital markets have affected buying and selling used goo...
05/08/2026

In this month's Less is More blog, Naomi ponders how expanding digital markets have affected buying and selling used goods in SK.

Back in the day, buying secondhand mostly meant thrift stores, garage sales, or flipping through the classified ads in the newspaper. Now it’s a whole ecosystem—mobile apps, local Facebook groups, and online resale platforms. It’s changed how used goods move around. 💵💵🏃🏼‍♀️📥📤

Read the whole blog at: www.swrc.ca/how-digital-marketplaces-changed-the-secondhand-economy-and-what-it-means-in-saskatchewan

Food is precious. The challenge of getting food all the way from producers to the kitchen table is huge. It takes a lot ...
04/29/2026

Food is precious.

The challenge of getting food all the way from producers to the kitchen table is huge. It takes a lot of effort to avoid goods getting lost or spoiled along the way!

Being careful with food once it gets to households is the last step of the chain, and a vital one. Food that goes bad AFTER it reaches our homes wastes not just resources, but grocery $$$ as well.

is here to help families maximize our use of food and stretch the grocery budget, with advice about:

🥯 Grocery / meal planning
🥦 Best ways to store different ingredients (fall in love with your freezer)
🥘 Plus delicious recipes, traditional and new, that turn aging ingredients into amazing meals

Check out their tips, tricks and recipes at: www.stopfoodwasteday.com/en/recipes-and-top-tips.html

And let us know in the comments below – what groceries give YOU the most trouble?

Thank you to all the volunteers that made our spring Repair Cafés a huge success! 🙏These pop-up events – meant to help p...
04/24/2026

Thank you to all the volunteers that made our spring Repair Cafés a huge success! 🙏

These pop-up events – meant to help people in the community fix up treasured items – run on local volunteers donating their time and expertise.

Take it from this happy customer:

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“Kudos to the dedicated repair café volunteers who showcased exceptional kindness and warmth. A skilled volunteer expertly mended my damaged drape, while another brought new life to my son's beloved black teddy bear, enabling it to sit up again. My son is overjoyed!”
----

It’s stories like this that remind us how meaningful it is to be part of a repair culture. So here’s to the sewers, the mechanics, the tinkerers and trouble-shooters. You rock!

For more info and to find out about upcoming repair cafés, visit https://www.swrc.ca/repair-cafe-saskatchewan

Compost is dirt simple – with a little knowledge. 🌱🌱🌱Organic waste like food scraps, garden plants, and pizza boxes turn...
04/15/2026

Compost is dirt simple – with a little knowledge. 🌱🌱🌱

Organic waste like food scraps, garden plants, and pizza boxes turn back into fluffy garden soil with a crew of helpful microbes and bugs.

At www.swrc.ca/compost, you can find all the info you need to break it down, while keeping your home and garden smelling fresh:

• The Basic 5-Step Compost Recipe – great for troubleshooting a slow or stinky bin!
• Composting in 60 Seconds – video series
• Dishing the Dirt – a review of 25 different home compost methods
• Countertop Composters – a study of what they electric appliances can and can’t do

And more!

Plus, if you’ve still got a specific compost question send it to [email protected] - or shoot us a DM!

Happy spring, and happy composting!

Saskatchewan, we need your help!Love Food Hate Waste Canada is looking for as many people as possible to take part in a ...
04/13/2026

Saskatchewan, we need your help!

Love Food Hate Waste Canada is looking for as many people as possible to take part in a 10 minute survey about how you shop, cook, store food, and use leftovers at home.

Your feedback can help deepen food waste organizations' understanding of what tips & tools will work best to prevent food waste in Canadian kitchens.

SURVEY OPEN APRIL 13TH - 27TH: https://bit.ly/2026-national-food-study-amplifier

As a thank you, everyone who completes the survey can enter for a chance to win $1000 towards groceries from Love Food Hate Waste Canada.

Help us represent Saskatchewan - your voice can help shape future food waste prevention efforts in our province and across the country.

Address

#208-220, 20th Street West
Saskatoon, SK
S7M0W9

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+13069313242

Website

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