New Facility Trims Halifax's "Waste Line"

Halifax residents are trimming their "waste line". Officials gathered today for a preview tour of the newest composting facility to serve people in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Miller Composting Corp. is preparing to accept an annual load of 25,000 tonnes of organic waste from households in the municipality.

"This is a state-of-the-art facility that meets and, in some cases, exceeds environmental requirements," said Environment Minister Don Downe, on hand for the tour. "Instead of touring a disposal site today, we are touring a facility that reduces our disposal sites, recovers a natural resource, and creates jobs."

Mayor Walter Fitzgerald of the Halifax Regional Municipality said the new facility demonstrates a commitment to follow through with an effective solid waste management strategy.

"Right now, the Halifax Regional Municipality is among the leaders in the province in total solid waste diversion, at 41 per cent," said Mayor Fitzgerald. "This kind of result is a testament to the commitment and hard work of each and every household."

Miller Waste Systems, Miller Composting Corp.'s parent company, has been working in waste management since 1961. Miller vice-president Blair McArthur said it's a proud day for his company.

"Today, we have the opportunity to move forward in our business with one of the largest facilities of its kind in North America," said Mr. McArthur. "We are also part of a success story that puts Halifax, and indeed Nova Scotia, in a winning position in waste diversion."

Said Susan Antler, executive director of The Composting Council of Canada: "Nova Scotia is helping us prove that organic materials can be recovered through composting and used for beneficial purposes. It is only through aggressive provincial composting programs that Canada's national waste diversion objectives will be met. Nova Scotians should be congratulated for their commitment to making composting happen."

Organic waste is no longer accepted at landfills in Nova Scotia. The full range of organic materials such as food trimmings and garden debris from households as well as commercial organics such as food processing residuals and supermarket and restaurant wastes will now be composted. The Miller facility will begin accepting organic waste for composting by the end of this month.