City of Regina | Waste Reduction

Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize single use items and food waste. Every action counts!

Reduce

Remember to bring reusable bags when grocery shopping. Try to keep a couple heavy-duty bags in the car and some light fold-up ones in a day bag
Take a paperless coffee break and use a reusable mug
When offered, decline promotional and single-use items that you don’t need. It’s as easy as saying, “No straw please”
Give experiences and share memories that don’t need wrapping (e.g. memberships and classes)
Purchase products with less packaging
Plan out your meals and use a shopping list to reduce food waste
Leave grass clippings on your lawn

Reuse

Repair items if you can before replacing them
Pack waste-free lunches
Purchase items second-hand
Donate items you no longer use to charity

Recycle

Use your blue cart or a Big Blue Bin depot to recycle acceptable items
Compost food scraps and yard waste at home by using a backyard composter

Did you know?

The average Canadian household wastes $1,100 a year on food waste. That’s costing Canadians over $17 million a year!

Canadians use up to 15 billion plastic bags every year. On average, a plastic bag is used for only 12 minutes. Plastic bags are not recyclable in the blue cart and should be placed in the garbage.

About one-third of the plastics used in Canada are for single-use or short-lived products and packaging. Plastics such as straws, cutlery, Styrofoam bags and wrappers are not recyclable and should be placed in the garbage.

Let’s all take simple steps to reduce our waste because together we make a big difference.

Not sure where to put an item?

Check out the Waste Wizard tool to find out how to properly dispose or donate common waste items.

Holiday Waste Reduction Tips

The holiday season brings tradition and celebration, but it also means more waste being sent to the landfill. This year, the City encourages residents to Rethink waste during the holidays.

As Canadians, we tend to generate all forms of holiday waste; packaging, old electronics, food and even toys. There are many ways residents can reduce their environmental impact this holiday season. Simple changes like giving the gift of an experience, discovering new recipes to make with leftovers, using old gift bags or wrapping a present in reusable cloth can make a big impact. Check out Zero Waste Christmas Tips. Below are some great reduction tips for Regina residents.

Green your Giving

Gift of Service - coupons for doing the dishes, shoveling snow
Experience - Parks Canada pass, Online music lesson, Online embroidery workshop
Handmade Gifts or upcycle an item
Local gift card
Subscription - music, magazine or book club

Waste Free Wrapping

Reuse last year’s gift bags
Cloth napkins
Scarves
Old paper
Newspaper
Old shoe box

Plan your Feast

Plan out your meals
Use cloth napkins
Compost what food scraps you can
Collect refundable drink containers
Try out a portion planner

Holiday Waste – What Goes Where

After gifts have been opened, find out how to properly sort common holiday items. Do they belong on the naughty or nice list? Check the Waste Wizard tool to learn more.

Recyclable items