The Yukon government will help keep the lights on at Raven Recycling over the next two years to the tune of $320,000.

The funding announcement was made this morning at Raven's warehouse in Marwell.

"We would not be able to continue to offer recycling services in the Yukon if it were not for this support. So it's crucial for us and for the entire Yukon population," Jacqueline Bedard, a board member with Raven, told reporters at the news conference.

Raven sought the assistance of both the territory and city following the crash of world commodity prices.

That meant Raven was either breaking even or sometimes losing money on loads of recycled materials sent out of the territory.

It and other recyclers in the city opted to stockpile many of their materials until there was a rise in commodity prices.

Both levels of government provided short-term funding, with the city also making changes to its diversion credit policy - which offers financial credits for the amount of waste diverted from the landfill - in this year's budget.

Today's announcement is set to assist the recycler in getting through the next two years as it works on long-term plans for the future.

As Environment Minister Elaine Taylor made the announcement, she noted Raven provides a "lifeline for just about every community in the territory."

"Raven Recycling's mandate has been very successful in educating and heightening awareness about the need to divert waste waste from our landfills, but also promoting environmental awareness and promoting zero waste as well," she said.

The minister also cited last year's territorial funding for school programs and the establishment of recycling depots in other Yukon communities.

"Since that time, however, who would have known what we we're in today? And that is the world recession," she said.

The world economic situation, she said, has made it difficult for Raven to get its materials to market.

The minister then pointed to Raven's work since the recession on a short, mid- and long-term business plan for the non-profit society that it is now following.

The $320,000 is set to get Raven through its mid-term plan over two years, with its short-term plan ending this month.

Joy Snyder, Raven's executive director, noted the long-term plan would see Raven operating out of a new facility designed to accommodate the larger amounts of recyclables it is receiving.

"We want to recycle more," she said, pointing out that more and more Yukoners are recycling, but there is limited space at Raven's current facility.

Last year, 2,840 tonnes were recycled through Raven with 922 tonnes being refundable, 155 tonnes being scrap metal and 1,741 tonnes being other recyclables. There are currently 18 full-time employees at the centre.

As Raven continues on its long-term, the territory is continuing its solid waste action plan, Taylor pointed out, noting that recycling will no doubt play a role in that plan with the government and Raven working together in the next year.

Bedard also presented Taylor with a cloth shopping bag.

The recycler also had on-hand Rethink stickers for its latest education campaign designed to get people rethinking about waste.

Asked if the stickers could end up producing more waste, Snyder replied they can be brought back to Raven for recycling.