The Clean Is Only Half of Moving Out
Every move leaves a pile of things nobody wants to put in the truck. If that pile is still in the unit on key day, it becomes the landlord's problem, and the landlord can reasonably charge for it. Belongings and garbage left behind are one of the most common deductions (see our damage deposit guide). A move-out clean also can't really start until the rooms are empty.
We don't haul junk. We clean once it's gone. This guide covers the part before we arrive, using the City of Saskatoon's own rules and 2026 rates.
First: What Not to Do
- Don't leave furniture beside the apartment bin. The City's rules for the metal garbage bins at apartments and condos are explicit: no furniture, oversized materials, or construction waste, and no recyclables, hazardous waste or liquids.
- Don't put it in the back lane. Leaving it anywhere that isn't a disposal site counts as illegal dumping. The City's illegal dumping page lists fines of $500 for a first infraction and $1,000 for a second, and tickets can go to the owner of the vehicle used.
- Don't pour leftover paint or cleaners down the drain. They have a free drop-off (below).
The Material Recovery Centre and Landfill
Almost everything ends up at one place: the City's Material Recovery Centre (MRC) at the landfill, 42 Valley Road. It's open 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., seven days a week, closed only December 25 and January 1. It takes debit and credit only. It has two sides, and which side you use decides whether you pay.
Sort & Go: free drop-off
| What you're getting rid of | Cost at Sort & Go |
|---|---|
| Recycling: cardboard boxes (flattened), paper, #1–7 plastic containers, cans, glass bottles and jars | Free |
| Stove, washer, dishwasher (metal tub) and similar large appliances | Free |
| Fridge, freezer, air conditioner, dehumidifier, water cooler | $20 each (refrigerant removal) |
| Small appliances: toasters, coffee makers, blenders, fans, air fryers, hair dryers | Free |
| Electronics: TVs and monitors, computers, printers, countertop microwaves, gaming systems | Free |
| Scrap metal: BBQs, filing cabinets, plumbing fixtures, frying pans | Free |
| Bikes (passed on to Bridge City Bicycle Co-op) | Free |
| Rechargeable household batteries (not e-bike batteries) | Free |
| Rimless car tires, up to 10 | Free |
Things the recycling bins won't take, even at Sort & Go: plastic bags and film, Styrofoam, black plastic, mirrors and window glass, dishes, Pyrex and ceramics. Those are garbage.
Scale & Pay: everything else
Anything that can't be recycled, such as a worn-out couch, a broken bed frame or bags of household garbage, goes over the scale. In 2026 that means a $20 entrance fee for every vehicle weighed in, plus the landfill tipping fee of $108 per tonne on what you leave. By those rates, a pickup load of about 250 kg of old furniture comes to roughly $47. Check saskatoon.ca/mrc before you go, because the City sets new rates each January.
How to make the trip quick
- Sort before you leave home. Keep the free Sort & Go items separate from the Scale & Pay load so each goes to the right place in one pass.
- Go early, especially on weekends. The City says weekends get busy after 9:30 a.m., which is worth knowing on a month-end moving weekend.
- Bring someone to help unload. MRC staff are not allowed to lift items out of personal vehicles.
- Hauling a tip trailer? Unloading at the landfill face requires a hard hat and a high-visibility vest. Without them you'll be sent to the transfer bins to unload by hand.
Paint, Cleaners and Other Hazardous Leftovers
Half-used paint, solvents, strong cleaners and similar products go to the City's household hazardous waste drop-off at Sort & Go, every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Check the City's hazardous waste page for the current list before you go. Never tip cleaning chemicals together to "save space". Bleach mixed with ammonia or acids gives off toxic gas.
The Fridge and the Pantry
If you're in a house with City carts, all food can go in the green cart. That includes whatever is in the forgotten jar at the back of the fridge; rinse the jar and recycle it. Then give the empty fridge a proper clean (our fridge guide has the steps). In an apartment, follow your building's rules for food waste, and never leave it in the metal bin as liquid.
Donate Before You Dump
Usable items cost nothing to give away and weigh nothing at the scale. The Salvation Army Thrift Store now has two Saskatoon locations, including a 13,500-square-foot store at 503 Nelson Road that opened in May 2026. Check thriftstore.ca for what each store accepts. Bikes are taken free at Sort & Go and passed to the Bridge City Bicycle Co-op. For furniture, a free listing on a local buy-and-sell site will often find it a new home quickly. Our decluttering tips help decide what's worth keeping at all.
The Order That Works
- Two weeks out: list and give away furniture you're not taking.
- The week before: one MRC run for electronics, appliances, metal and recycling (all free), plus anything bound for Scale & Pay.
- A Wednesday before you go: hazardous leftovers to the drop-off.
- Moving day: truck loaded, unit empty, keys still in hand.
- Last: the clean, in an empty unit, so nothing gets moved back across a clean floor.
That last step is ours if you want it. Our move-out cleaning is booked around your key date, and the cost guide shows typical prices by home size. Selling rather than renting? The same order works before listing photos. See cleaning for realtors.