Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, Shercom, call on gov't to slash tire recycling levy
The Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce is calling on the provincial government to slash the tire recycling levy in half – following allegations that some Saskatchewan scrap tires are no longer being processed in the province.
Saskatchewan motorists pay a $5.00 recycling fee for each new tire they purchase.
The tire processing contract recently went from a long established Saskatoon firm to a California company with a new facility in Moose Jaw and plans for a second in Saskatoon.
In the meantime, the government confirms that some tires have been trucked out of province during periods of overcapacity.
In a letter to the Minister of Environment, the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce says “it is evident that shipping tires to Alberta for processing by a U.S. company delivers no benefit for Saskatchewan’s economy, environment, consumers or businesses.”
The chamber is calling on the minister to cut the recycling fee consumers pay in half until 100 per cent of tires are again processed in Saskatchewan.
The NDP opposition says it’s a problem created by government.
“It’s now clear that the Saskatchewan tire processing fees paid by Saskatchewan people on their tires are now going towards creating jobs in Calgary, not in Saskatchewan,” Leader Carla Beck told reporters Wednesday.
Shercom Industries, the Saskatoon company that recycled Saskatchewan tires for 30 years, says the situation didn’t have to come to this.
“We’re extremely disappointed in both the Stewardship (Tire Stewardship of Saskatchewan) and the province,” CEO Mike Richards told CTV News. “We have a $20 million dollar facility sitting here in Saskatoon that can process twice what the province can produce in tires and its sitting mothballed.”
The government believes that any issues are temporary.
In a written statement, the Ministry of Environment said it hopes a second processing facility opens as soon as possible.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6946509.1719687583!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Who are the richest people in Canada? Here's how many billionaires there are
If you gathered all the wealth that billionaires currently have worldwide, you would have about US$14.2 trillion, according to Forbes Magazine. But what about in Canada alone?
Health Canada recalls brand of sunscreen product due to potential fungal contamination
Double check your sunscreen products before lathering up this long weekend, as Health Canada has recalled several lots across the country.
opinion Practical tips for seniors who want to supplement their retirement income
Are you retired and looking for some ideas to help make some extra money? Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew has some tips to help you earn some income in your golden years.
'7 years of regret': Raunchy leg piece wins bad tattoo competition at Edmonton Expo Centre
Friday night was a celebration of mistakes for a small group of body art enthusiasts.
235 flights cancelled as WestJet waits to hear from labour minister on next steps in mechanics strike
WestJet said 235 flights have been cancelled Saturday as it waits to see what the next steps are in its ongoing labour dispute with its mechanics.
A French community honours a teen killed by police. Political and racial tensions are the backdrop
One year after a French teenager with North African origins was killed by police — a shooting that sparked shock and days of rioting across France — his mother led a silent march Saturday to pay homage to her son.
Beryl strengthens into a hurricane in the Atlantic, forecast to become a major storm
Beryl strengthened into a hurricane on Saturday as it churned toward the southeast Caribbean, with forecasters warning it was expected to become a dangerous and major storm before reaching Barbados late Sunday or early Monday.
Time crunch, rules mess could plague a Liberal leadership race
Calls have intensified for Justin Trudeau to resign as head of the party he almost single-handedly pulled back from the brink after a decimating electoral defeat in 2011.
Lightning deal Sergachev, Jeannot; Maple Leafs acquire Tanev's rights at NHL draft
General managers wheeled and dealed Saturday in Sin City.