By KEVIN BERGER, Local Journalism Initiative
During a news conference held last week at the Warman SARCAN depot, Saskatchewan Minister of Environment Darlene Rowden revealed that the Warman location had recently been named Depot of the Year for 2025.
Rowden was at the Warman depot on Friday, May 1 to announce the Ministry of Environment is providing more than $37 million this year to support SARCAN’s work across the province, an increase of more than $117,000 from the previous year.
“SARCAN isn’t just a place where you take your recycling. It’s one of Saskatchewan’s clearest examples of how environmental protection, community impact and economic activity can work together,” she said.
Rowden highlighted the fact that between 2024 and 2025, SARCAN collected and recycled approximately 491.6 million containers.
“Just think about that: 492 million. But here is the real weight of that achievement: more than 43 million pounds of material has been kept out of our landfills,” Rowden said.
“That’s less waste in our environment, less pressure on landfill capacity and a cleaner province for everyone.”
Amidst her other comments, Rowden shared the news about Warman’s Depot of the Year award. “Your team and colleagues are being recognized for going above and beyond in making this location the cleanest, greenest, and friendliest in the province,” she said.
Each year, SARCAN conducts anonymous evaluations of its locations and recognizes depots showing high levels of customer service, cleanliness, accuracy of counts and other factors. According to SARCAN Recycling’s Facebook page, the other depots to win awards included the locations in Indian Head, Wilkie and Saskatoon Kochar.
Minister of Social Services and Warman MLA Terry Jenson was also at the Warman depot on Friday, where he mentioned he frequently came into the facility as a customer.
“I’m always very impressed with the service, the responsiveness and especially the smiles. Seeing the smiles on everybody’s faces when you come in is truly something that makes our day as customers,” he said.
Jenson also talked about the employment opportunities that SARCAN provides people with disabilities as it employs over 900 staff within 65 communities.
“You can see the pride of earning that first pay cheque, and subsequent paycheque…and the sense of purpose that comes from being part of a team,” he said.
The final speaker was SARCAN Recycling Executive Director Amy McNeil, who noted the key to SARCAN’s achievements over the past 35 years has been its partnerships.
“I can think of no other partner as important to our organization as the government in the Province of Saskatchewan,” she said.
“Through this partnership, we have built a recycling system that is the envy of many jurisdictions around the globe.”
The staff at the Warman SARCAN depot pose for a group picture with the provincial dignitaries who visited their location on May 1 for a funding announcement.