More Opportunities to Recycle in Nova Scotia

There are more recycling opportunities in Nova Scotia. Beginning today, residents should include the following items in their blue bags for recycling pickup:

• steel/tin and glass food containers
• high-density plastics (e.g., beverage containers, ice-cream containers, detergent containers, shampoo bottles, plastic crates, boxes and lids, and containers for non-hazardous household cleaners)
• low-density plastics (e.g. commercial pallet wrap)

The recycling of these items, already in place in some municipalities, is part of the next phase in the Nova Scotia Environment Department's Solid Waste Resource Management Strategy.

Environment Minister Don Downe says Nova Scotians have embraced the opportunity to improve their record of waste diversion. "We have been able to demonstrate just how successful recycling can be," said Mr. Downe. "Not only have we created hundreds of jobs through recycling programs, but we have diverted more than 25 per cent of our waste from municipal landfills."

There are some plastics that are not included in this latest recycling initiative. They include antifreeze containers, motor oil containers and household hazardous waste containers, food bags (e.g. bread and milk bags), dry-cleaning bags, and agricultural wrap including silage wrap and fertilizer bags. These items can still be thrown in garbage destined for landfills.

There is no change in the disposal of plastic grocery and department store bags. Residents of municipalities that currently collect them are encouraged to continue including them for blue-bag pickup. In areas that do not collect them, the bags may go in the garbage.

"We have spent many months consulting with municipal representatives and industry stakeholders," said Mr. Downe. "Their input and support has been very important and greatly appreciated. It has allowed us to reach our Sept. 1, 1998, target."

The department will work with stakeholder groups through a comfortable transition phase and will assist municipalities, business and industry to develop and implement programs.

"We want to help everyone along here in a positive way. In this phase we have only included items for which there are solid markets," said Mr. Downe. "Other items will be added for recycling as markets are developed."

For information on pickup, commercial, industrial and business representatives should deal directly with their haulers for information and schedules. Residents are encouraged to contact their municipalities.