Saskatoon’s mandatory curbside recycling program will be phased in starting in the new year.

City council rubber stamped the plan for single-family residences at its meeting Tuesday night.

A blue bin and a guide to recycling will be dropped off at homes during a six-month period beginning early in 2013.

The first two weeks of recycling will be free, but after that residences will be billed $4.65 per month for the service.

The city is still in talks to implement a similar recycling program for condos and apartments.