Those red garbage and recycling trucks are soon going to be a thing of the past as it was recently announced that Regens Disposal has been acquired by Green For Life Environmental Inc. 

"We're a national environmental services provider," explained Luke Pelosi, Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, with Green For Life Environmental Inc. (GFL). "We operate in all the provinces across the country. We've been in Saskatchewan for quite some time but just over a year ago we partnered with Environtech Services, one of Saskatchewan's premier environmental service companies based out of Saskatoon. And since that time, we've been looking for additional opportunities to invest in Saskatchewan."

"When Gene and  Margaret Baniulis were looking to retire, we started having conversations with them and they run a best-in-class disposal company which fit our model so we thought it made sense to partner up."

He shared that  GFL is a national background, which has resources and expertise that come with that.

"We do operate on a regional basis so nothing is really going to change here in terms of the day to day operations. The same management, the same employees are going to be providing the same great quality level of service that customers have come to know and love. However, we do have the national breadth and depth that we're able to support and bring all of that to the market that communities look for."

"For example, composting and organic food waste processing is something a lot of communities are looking at currently. GFL Environmental is one of the leading providers of such services across the country. So we can bring incremental services such as that to communities that are looking for that type of service."

As for staffing and other day to day operations, there won't be much change. 

"The former owners are going to take some much deserved time off but all of the staff, all of the management, everything is staying the same."

He added that the contract with the City of Estevan also will not change. 

"As that contract comes up and is looking to be renewed, any changes the City is looking to do, we're certainly open to discussing those and looking at better ways that we can all partner together."

The biggest change he added, will be in the trucks themselves. 

"What you will see is we will re-brand the vehicles. We have a bright green coloured branding and you will see those changes over the next little while. But in terms of employees, service level, days of the week collected, everything else will be status quo."

"Regens had a great fleet so we'll paint all of the existing fleet and then as new opportunities arise and new truck purchases are required, we'll look at that at that time but the first step is painting the existing trucks that we have."

He added that while he would like to see the new green trucks on the road sooner rather than later, it does disrupt service to remove a truck from the fleet.

"I would think that by the new year we will be seeing the bright green trucks on the streets. First and foremost, our priority to provide the customers the same great level of service that they've had under the Regens banner so we don't want to disrupt any of that so that's why we'll take a little bit of time coordinating the logistics of taking trucks off the road in order to paint them." 

He ends by saying that acquiring Regens is one more way to invest in Saskatchewan. 

"We partnered in Saskatchewan in a meaningful way last year and Regens represents another meaningful investment in the province. We look to continue to partner with top quality companies in the province and continue to invest in Saskatchewan."