Winnipeg police are investigating a gruesome discovery at a recycling depot Friday night in the Omand's Creek industrial area.

Police responded to a call at around 7:05 p.m. Friday, after the body of a middle-aged woman was found mixed in with recycling materials.

Const. Jay Murray said at a news conference on Saturday that workers were sorting through recycled material when the the woman's body was discovered. Investigators aren't ruling anything out, but Murray said it's believed she was picked up somewhere else in the city and ultimately transported to the depot.

"This is somebody's daughter, somebody's loved one and I think it's absolutely appalling that this person was treated like a piece of trash or recyclable material," said Murray.

"I don't think society will tolerate this at any level and someone or some people out there have information that will help us with this investigation and it's absolutely crucial, it's a moral obligation that those people come forward to police."

Police are now trying to identify the woman and notify next of kin. Murray said cause of death won't be determined until an autopsy takes place, which is expected to happen some time in the next two days. Members of the homicide unit are investigating.

"It's a monumental task they have in front of them," said Murray. "There is a lot of work ahead. We need to contact this person's friends and family. Discover where she last was. We need to try and figure out where these trucks that carried this material potentially came from."

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to call 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

With files from Alana Cole