Hamilton Looks into Our Recycling

Nova Scotia's world-renowned solid waste resource management infrastructure continues to draw attention for achievements that have made us world leaders in Recycling.

This week, four elected councillors and three senior staff members from the city of Hamilton, Ont.are in the province to look at our solid waste systems and to talk with our waste experts. The visitors will be viewing composting, recycling and disposal facilities in Halifax, Lunenburg and Colchester counties.

The delegation arrived in the province on Wednesday, Sept. 19 and will depart on Sunday, Sept. 23. They serve about 470,000 residents, making Hamilton a slightly larger municipality than the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Hamilton Councillor Andrea Horwath said her group came to Nova Scotia because of the province's excellent national reputation regarding recycling.

"We've come to see the exciting initiatives you have in place," said Ms. Horwath who is the political chair of the city's Steering Committee on Solid Waste. "We've come to see how world leaders do it."

Environment and Labour Minister David Morse said the province is proud to host the delegates, especially during the month the province is recycling its billionth bottle.

"The best way to learn how to recycle is to come here. That way they can learn first-hand about our successful waste management strategies," he said.

This year, the province has also hosted delegates from other Canadian cities and Hong Kong and from countries like Ireland, New Zealand, and the United States.

Hamilton is currently developing a solid waste management master plan. Composting of organic wastes and an expanded recycling program are being recommended for implementation. The city currently incinerates most of its residential waste but its energy from waste plant will be closing at the end of 2006.

During their visit, the delegates will talk with municipal and Department of Environment and Labour solid waste professionals for a summary of the provincial strategy. Tours have been arranged throughout Halifax Regional Municipality on Thursday and Friday. Delegates will tour Resource Recovery Fund Board Nova Scotia on Friday afternoon, Colchester County on Friday afternoon and Lunenburg County on Saturday.