What SK Recycles does

SK Recycles is a not-for-profit Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, legally incorporated as Multi-Material Recycling Inc. The organization manages the household packaging and paper recycling program across Saskatchewan on behalf of more than 550 obligated producer businesses — retailers, manufacturers, restaurants, and importers — under the province's Household Packaging and Paper Stewardship Program Regulations (2023) and a Ministry of Environment–approved Stewardship Plan.

The program's core operational offerings are curbside collection services (Phase 1 in 14 large urban communities and Phase 2 in smaller/remote communities), multi-family residential collection services, and depot collection services operated in partnership with SARCAN across 73 depot locations. Supporting services include producer reporting and fee management via the WeRecycle Portal (a web-based platform developed by Circular Materials and used under national integration), greenhouse gas emissions tracking for collectors, and public-facing material acceptance guidance. Underlying technology is a web-portal-based reporting and compliance system rather than a proprietary enterprise platform; the program's value is in the operational and regulatory infrastructure rather than software IP.

The business model is a regulated producer-fee structure: obligated producers pay per-kilogram fees by material category (e.g., PET 87¢/kg, Polystyrene 216¢/kg, Corrugated Cardboard 53¢/kg) on a quarterly schedule, with low-volume producers (1,000–5,000 kg annually) eligible for simplified flat-fee reporting ($840–$1,760 annually). Fees are calculated via a Four-Step Fee Methodology to cover collection, transportation, and processing costs. The organization is transitioning from a shared-responsibility model (75% producer funded) to a full Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model (100% producer funded and operated) through a phased rollout expected to complete by February 2028. SK Recycles is governed by a producer-controlled Board of Directors and serves Saskatchewan residents (85%+ household participation, 384,000 households), municipalities, First Nations, and Métis communities as downstream beneficiaries of the service.

Name

SK Recycles

Legal name

Multi-Material Recycling Inc.

Website

https://skrecycles.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SK Recycles is a Saskatchewan not-for-profit Producer Responsibility Organization that manages household packaging and paper recycling province-wide, funded by fees from 550+ producer businesses and operated under the provincial EPR framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Extended Producer Responsibility Recycling Services

NAICS

Solid Waste Collection (562111), Waste Collection (56211), Waste Collection (5621), Other Waste Collection (562119), Materials Recovery Facilities (56292)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reuse & Resale / Recommerce Operations (EUAIANAC), On-site Recycling Programs (Single-Stream, Source-Separated) (BPABALAB), Recycling Transfer & Consolidation (Single-Stream, Dual-Stream, Source-Separated) (EUAIABAC), Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

Keywords

• Extended producer responsibility
• Packaging paper recycling
• Household recycling program
• Producer responsibility organization
• Waste management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saskatoon

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Producer Membership Fees: SK Recycles is funded by over 550 businesses (retailers, manufacturers, restaurants) that supply packaging and paper to Saskatchewan residents. Producers pay fees based on the type and quantity of materials they supply, calculated using a Four-Step Fee Methodology to cover collection, transportation, and processing costs.
2. Material-Based Fee Schedule: Fees are charged per material category in cents/kg. Each designated packaging and paper material has a specific fee rate calculated to ensure fairness and cover operational costs. Quarterly payment schedule: January 31, April 30, July 31, October 31.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SK Recycles operates Saskatchewan's regulated household packaging and paper recycling program under a government-approved Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework. It contracts with municipalities, First Nations, Métis communities, and SARCAN depots to collect household recyclables, processes them, and sells them to end markets. The program is funded by membership fees from over 550 producer businesses (retailers, manufacturers, restaurants, importers) based on the type and quantity of packaging and paper they supply to Saskatchewan residents.

Product overview

SK Recycles operates a single unified Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for household packaging and paper recycling in Saskatchewan. The program is not a traditional SaaS product but rather a government-mandated recycling service. Its core offerings include curbside collection services, multi-family collection services, and depot collection services (through SARCAN depots), coordinated through a phased transition from the legacy MMSW shared-responsibility model to full EPR by 2028. Supporting services include producer reporting and fee management via the WeRecycle Portal, greenhouse gas emissions tracking, and public-facing material lists and recycling guidance. All offerings fall under the SK Recycles EPR Program umbrella, which shifts operational and financial responsibility from municipalities to producers of packaging and paper.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Curbside Collection Services Household packaging and paper collection from curbside locations, provided through contracts between SK Recycles and participating Saskatchewan municipalities as part of the EPR program.
• Multi-Family Collection Services Collection of household packaging and paper from multi-family residential buildings in Saskatchewan, part of the EPR program and contracted through participating municipalities.
• Depot Collection Services Recycling drop-off services at 73 SARCAN depots across Saskatchewan for flexible plastics, foam packaging, and non-deposit glass bottles and jars; Phase 3 expands depot collection to communities without curbside service.
• Producer Reporting and Fee Management Producers register, report packaging and paper quantities, and pay EPR fees through the WeRecycle Portal, including material-based fee schedules by category (paper, plastics, glass, metals) and quarterly payment cycles.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Program Full EPR framework under which SK Recycles manages collection, transportation, processing, and end-market sale of household packaging and paper on behalf of producer members, operating through three transition phases to full operational and financial responsibility by 2028.
• Greenhouse Gas Reporting System

Quantifiable outcome

• 38,556 tonnes of household packaging and paper collected in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Canada Plastics PactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSK Recycles is a member of the Canada Plastics Pact as an implementation partner to discover and implement innovative solutions for tackling plastic waste and pollution. They actively participate in the Flexible Plastics Working Group and the Knowledge Centre Working Group.
• Recycle SaskatchewancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSK Recycles participates with other leading EPR organizations in Saskatchewan in Recycle Saskatchewan, a group working with government and stakeholders to support and enhance effective product stewardship and EPR in the province.
• Saskatchewan Waste Reduction CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSK Recycles is a sustaining partner of the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council, dedicated to helping people of Saskatchewan reduce waste and achieve a waste-free Saskatchewan through circular economy transformation.
• Circular MaterialscoreTechnology or IntegrationWorking with Circular Materials, a not-for-profit producer-led producer responsibility organization, for national integration of Blue Box programs and harmonized EPR approach across Canada. SK Recycles uses the WeRecycle Portal developed by Circular Materials.
• SARCAN (Saskatchewan Association of Recycling Councils)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with SARCAN for depot collection services at all 73 SARCAN depots across Saskatchewan. SARCAN accepts flexible plastics, foam packaging, and non-deposit glass bottles and jars for recycling.
• Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSK Recycles supports First Nations in accessing federal funding through Indigenous Services Canada for waste management activities including transfer stations, recycling programs, and community education.
• Saskatchewan Aboriginal Land Technicians (SALT)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSK Recycles aligns with SALT's vision to support and increase capacity for First Nations managing their lands and territories with sustainable waste management systems.
• Meewasin Valley AuthorityminorOthersSK Recycles supports the Meewasin Valley Authority Tree Sponsorship Program in honour of Indigenous Peoples Day.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Circular Materials: National not-for-profit producer responsibility organization that developed the WeRecycle Portal used by SK Recycles. Coordinates harmonized EPR across multiple provinces and is both a technology partner and a comparator PRO.
• Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM): Manitoba's household packaging and paper recycling PRO, transitioning to full EPR under provincial stewardship regulations. Directly comparable in scope, prairie geography, and program design to SK Recycles.
• Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA): Alberta's mandated stewardship organization managing beverage container and tire recycling with EPR-style funding. Comparable as a provincial producer-funded recycling administrator in a neighboring western Canadian jurisdiction.
• Recycle BC: British Columbia's household packaging and paper EPR producer responsibility organization. Operates the most mature full EPR program in Canada and is the closest direct comparable to SK Recycles in mandate, fee structure, and provincial scope.
• Stewardship Ontario: Ontario's household blue box program administrator transitioning to full EPR. Comparable in mandate (producer-funded household packaging recycling) and regulatory context to SK Recycles' Saskatchewan program.
• Éco Entreprises Québec: Québec's producer responsibility organization for curbside recycling. Operates a similar producer-funded EPR program for household packaging under provincial regulation, making it a strong structural peer.

Broad incumbents

• SARCAN Recycling: Provincial depot operator providing the physical collection network for SK Recycles. While a partner rather than direct competitor, SARCAN's broader beverage container stewardship role makes it a key incumbent in Saskatchewan's recycling ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Product Care Recycling: Multi-product stewardship organization operating EPR programs for paint, pesticides, and other household hazardous products across Canada. Comparable as a PRO leveraging producer fees to fund regulated collection and recycling programs.
• Call2Recycle Canada: National battery and cellphone stewardship PRO operating an EPR-style collection network. Comparable as a smaller, product-specific PRO with similar producer-funding and depot/collection model, though focused on batteries rather than packaging.

Others

• Canadian Stewardship Services Alliance (CSSA): Industry alliance providing national EPR service coordination for packaging, paper, and electronics. Functions as an enabling ecosystem participant that supports provincial PROs like SK Recycles through shared services and standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SKRecycles
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@skrecycles
• Facebookfacebook.com/SKRecycles
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skrecycles
• Instagraminstagram.com/SKRecycles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SK Recycles