The City of Saskatoon says the company hired to process organics from the green cart program has not been able to fulfill its contract even after deadline extensions were given, so is in default, but the organics program continues and both short-term and long-term options are being reviewed.

A report to the Environment, Utilities and Corporate Services Committee next Wednesday states that Green Prairie Environmental was awarded the contract and was responsible for all the permits, approvals to construct a processing facility. As was reported earlier in the year, GPE was having trouble getting permit approval for organics at its landfill in the RM of Corman Park and was trying to turn that around while also looking for other options. That hasn’t happened, so GPE is in default of its contract and, the report says, the financial consequences rest with GPE.

When the organics program began in Saskatoon, a short-term contract with Loraas Disposal North was struck. In addition to continuing to haul organics to Loraas for processing, Administration is looking at options do the work in-house. It could mean temporarily processing a portion of the materials at the Saskatoon Regional Waste Management Center and West Compost Depot. Both would require provincial government approval. A report with long-term options will be presented to the Environment Committee in the first quarter of next year.