REGINA, Sask. — Regina businesses and multi-family property owners can still access thousands of dollars in support to prepare for mandatory recycling and composting, but the window to secure funding is narrowing.
More than $500,000 remains in the City of Regina’s Early Adopter Incentive Program, which helps cover eligible costs for equipment and materials such as recycling and compost bins, signage and bathroom hand dryers. The funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the city expects it will run out before every eligible property has applied.
Willow Iorga, the city’s co-ordinator of education and outreach in the Water, Waste and Environment department, says about half the funding has already been allocated, noting that approximately 1,200 multi-family properties and 3,000 industrial, commercial and institutional properties in Regina could qualify.
“Not everyone necessarily needs the financial support, so the faster people can get their applications in, the better.”
The program was created after businesses raised concerns about the cost of introducing additional waste services. Some properties, particularly downtown, also face physical limitations that make adding more collection bins difficult.
“Something we heard a lot from places downtown was that they didn’t have a lot of space to add all these extra carts,” Iorga said.
Underground waste containers can help address those space constraints by reducing the amount of equipment above ground, but Iorga says those systems can be expensive. The incentive program is intended to help offset those costs and make the transition more manageable.
Multi-family properties were added to the program after facing similar challenges, including limited space for city carts and higher costs associated with private waste collection.
How much funding can properties receive?
The program offers two main funding options: a capital-only incentive for larger investments and a combined capital and operational option for applicants looking to purchase smaller items and help cover ongoing collection costs.
Under the capital-only option, eligible applicants can receive reimbursement for 100 per cent of their first $10,000 in spending, followed by 50 per cent of eligible costs above that amount, up to a maximum reimbursement of $20,000.
For example, a project costing $30,000 could qualify for a $20,000 reimbursement, provided the expenses meet program requirements.
The combined option offers multi-family properties $25 per unit for kitchen catchers and liner bags, along with a monthly rebate of up to $55 per green cart for green-cart service until the new bylaw requirement takes effect.
Eligible businesses can receive up to $2,500 toward capital investments and a $105 monthly operational rebate for green-cart service, according to Iorga.
“There is a capital-only incentive if you’re doing a big project, and then there’s a capital and operational option if you are just wanting to buy like those small kitchen catchers for your tenant units,” she explained.
The financial assistance is designed to help property owners get the equipment and services in place before the new requirements become mandatory.
Deadlines are approaching
Updates to Regina’s Waste Management Bylaw will introduce new requirements in stages.
Multi-family residential properties must have compost service in place by July 1, 2027. Industrial, commercial and institutional businesses will have until Jan. 1, 2028, to implement multi-stream waste management systems that include recycling and food and yard waste, alongside their existing garbage service.
Multi-family properties already have recycling requirements, according to Iorga, but will need to add compost service. Businesses in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector are not currently required to provide recycling or food and yard waste collection.
Iorga says the city consulted both sectors before approving the bylaw changes, and businesses asked for financial and educational assistance to help them adapt.
“Something that we heard back from the ICI sector was that they wanted support, educational support, financial support from the city,” she said.
The incentive program was developed in response to those concerns, helping eligible properties manage the additional costs of introducing the required services.
City offers help beyond funding
Financial assistance is only one part of the city’s approach. Its education team can also arrange presentations for businesses, condominium corporations and apartment properties to help staff and tenants understand how to sort waste properly.
“We can send city staff out to your condo or your business and give your staff or tenants a presentation on how to sort,” Iorga said.
The city also has sorting guides and signage available online, with printed signage available to help make recycling and composting easier for tenants and customers.
“We have signage available for download. We can also drop that off to make it easier for, again, tenants and customers,” she said.
Iorga encouraged eligible property owners and businesses to contact the city rather than wait until the deadlines are closer.
“Anything that we can do to support or help financially or education wise, we’re here,” she said. “Just reach out to us. Get your applications in.”
Businesses can find eligibility information and apply at Regina.ca/ICI, while multi-family properties can visit Regina.ca/MultiFamily.
