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About Us

Our Mission
To provide our stakeholders with the optimal environment and economic benefits associated with responsible solid waste  management by ensuring the efficient operation of the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre, maximum diversion from landfill, courteous service to the public and by providing incentives and educative services to encourage the community to reduce waste, reuse whenever possible, and recycle and compost correctly.


The Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre is jointly owned by the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, and the Towns of Mahone Bay, Bridgewater, and Lunenburg. We are located on Nova Scotia’s scenic South Shore, in Whynotts Settlement, near Bridgewater.


In 2005, the Community Recycling Centre celebrated its 10th anniversary. It’s hard to believe how far we have come since 1977 when we were burning trash in a teepee style incinerator.


In 1991, the Municipality and the Towns of Mahone Bay, Bridgewater, and Lunenburg came together and established a Waste
Management Committee. At that time, the ‘dump’ consisted of a silo incinerator for bagged waste, a pit burner for waste wood and dry landfill for non-combustibles and ash from the incinerators.


Recycling was becoming top-of-mind. One thousand households representing each of the four municipal units took part in a pilot
project in 1992, with each household receiving an aerated cart and kitchen container for collection of organics, a supply of blue bags and a recycling brochure. The result: nearly one-third of the waste was diverted. The seed had been planted!


Today, we are Canada’s first integrated solid waste management facility, servicing a population of about 40,000 people by providing
curbside collection of waste, a public drop-off, as well as the processing of recyclables and organics, sale to markets, and disposal of garbage. Recyclables from local ENVIRO-DEPOTS™ are also brought here for compacting and trucking to various markets.


We manage nearly 20 different waste streams, ensuring as much is recycled as possible. We accept organics, recyclables, paper and garbage. We also accept household hazardous waste, and construction and demolition waste, including woodchips, drywall, asphalt shingles and metal.


In addition to a world-class facility, we have been busy over the last few years developing environmental education programs, resource materials and face-to-face community outreach programs—all to encourage our customers to reduce their waste even further.

 
Programs

Two Bags Free
The Two Bags Free program is offered to residents of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Residents of the Towns of Lunenburg, Bridgewater and Mahone Bay are not eligible for the program.

Residents may bring two garbage bags to the Community Recycling Centre for free. Loads which consist of more than two garbage bags will be charged for the entire load. Waste may only be accepted in bags no larger than 42 inches wide (107 cm) by 48 inches long (122 cm) and bags must be securely closed at the top.


Residents must provide a NS Drivers License or other identification bearing civic address to confirm residence within the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg at the weigh scales. For more information call 543-2991.

 

Illegal Dumpsite Tipping Fee Waiver
A tipping fee waiver is in effect for property owners who wish to clean-up illegally dumped waste on their property.


Program details may be obtained from the Recycling Centre. It is suggested that residents arrange a dumpsite visit to ensure waste is sorted and deemed acceptable according to Recycling Centre site regulations. For more information, please call 543-2991.

 

Compost Sales
Residents and businesses please be advised that compost will not be available for purchase during the 2011 season, effective immediately.


Our available compost is being used for a landfill remediation project. The compost will be used in an innovative way to protect the new landfill cover that will be placed to permanently close our cells. Its use will be less expensive than more conventional methods for landfill remediation.


For more information please call 543-2991.

 
Facilities

Materials Recovery Facility 
The Materials Recovery Facility is designed to sort the dry recyclables, such as paper and blue bag recyclables. The separation process includes conveyor belts to transport material, hand sorting and regular inspections of waste.


How it works

Recyclables are collected in blue bags from curbside collection. At the Materials Recovery Facility, the blue bags are broken open by hand and dumped on the conveyor belt.


The recyclables then travel along a magnetized conveyor belt which removes any steel cans; they then pass over a shaker screen that removes any small debris or broken pieces. All of the remaining plastics and tins are sorted by hand, sent to a bailer to be compacted then sold to various markets. For example, pop bottles go to NovaPet in Amherst and our paper products go to Scotia Recycling in Bridgewater and Dartmouth. Enviro-Age Plastics in Prince Edward Island turn plastics from your blue bag into recycled lumber!

 

Composting Facility 
Organics are things such as yard waste, lawn trimmings, meat, fish, bones and food scraps, and soiled and wet paper products that can be processed into valuable compost.


The organics you place in your green bins are delivered to the Community Recycling Centre, and go through the following process:


How it works
First, the organic material is dumped onto a tipping floor and an employee inspects and removes any contamination (items that don’t belong and will compromise the composting process). The material then travels along a conveyor belt, where a visual inspection is done to ensure that all contaminants have been removed before the organic material is shredded.


Next a large paddle is used to mix the raw material in a vessel. This encourages the growth of bacteria. As the microorganisms begin to flourish inside the pile, heat is generated, destroying any harmful bacteria. The microorganisms break down the food scraps into compost. It is our job to create just the right amount of air, food and moisture for these microorganisms.


The organic material remains in the vessel for five weeks, then it is then passed over a shaker screen and piled into windrows where it will remain for 4-6 months. Windrows are long piles of composted materials that are aerated by turning the pile periodically.


The compost we produce here at the Community Recycling Centre is relatively high in organic content and nitrogen, and is comparable to commercial products used to improve the quality of soil.


Click here for more information on composting.

 

Construction and Demolition Site 
Construction and demolition waste will be accepted at the Community Recycling Centre, but it must be sorted as follows:

  • Brush and clean wood
  • Wood, painted or with small amount of metal, and chipboard
  • Asphalt shingles
  • Drywall
  • Old bricks and concrete
  • Metals, including appliances, empty drums with one end removed, and metal tanks that have been cut in half and drained

View our construction and demolition waste sorting guide for more details.


 

Household Hazardous Waste Depot
  

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is waste generated in our homes which poses a risk to health, safety, or the environment. Throwing HHW in the trash or pouring it down the drain can be dangerous to your family and our environment.


Look for hazard symbols on packaging which indicate whether a material is corrosive, flammable, reactive or poisonous. If unsure, please conatct the Community Recycling Centre at 543-2991. 


Please note, this service is for residents and their household waste only. We do not accept commercial hazardous waste. For a list of commercial HHW disposal companies read or print our HHW brochure


The Community Recycling Centre accepts the following HHW free of charge:

  • ABS solvent cement
  • Chlorine bleach
  • Grease
  • Photo developers
  • Acetone (nail polish)
  • Contact cement
  • Herbicides
  • Pipe joint compound
  • Acid Corrosives
  • Creosote
  • Insecticides
  • Plastic cement
  • Adhesives
  • Diesel fuel
  • Kerosene
  • Plastic wood (aerosol)
  • Aerosol cans
  • Drain opener
  • Large Household batteries
  • Poison
  • Ammonia-based cleaners
  • Driveway sealer
  • Liquid Flammables
  • Reactives
  • Antifreeze
  • Enamels
  • Metal polishes
  • Rechargeable batteries
  • Autobody fillers
  • Fertilizers
  • Methyl Hydrate
  • Roofing tar/cement
  • Ballasts (PCB free)
  • Fibreglass resin/epoxy
  • Mortar
  • Sealers
  • Battery acid
  • Floor wax
  • Motor oil
  • Shellac
  • Brake fluid
  • Fluorescent tubes
  • Propane cylinders tanks
  • Solid Flammables
  • Butane
  • Foundation coating
  • Paint stripper
  • Stains
  • Camp fuel/igniters
  • Furnace or stove cement
  • Paint thinner
  • Transmission fluid
  • Carpet cleaner/shampoo
  • Gas
  • Paints
  • Turpentine
  • Caulking compound
  • Gas-line antifreeze
  • Pesticides
  • Varsol

 
Used oil should be dropped off here at the Community Recycling Centre, at your nearest oil retailer.


Leftover household paint can be dropped off here at the Community Recycling Centre or returned to your nearest ENVIRO-DEPOT™.

 

Transfer Station  
A waste transfer station is a facility where garbage is stored on a temporary basis until it is trucked to a landfill. 
 
Why a transfer station?
The Province of Nova Scotia established environmental regulations that required all landfills in the Province to meet very stringent environmental standards by January 1, 2006. Our old landfill did not meet these requirements, and to build a new landfill site was a very expensive proposition.


The Municipality of the District of Chester was moving forward with a second generation landfill at Kaizer Meadows, so we partnered with them to dispose of our garbage.


We constructed a transfer station here on site, and on January 1, 2006, began trucking garbage to Kaizer Meadows. This change was seamless to our customers. Garbage is still picked up curbside, and customers can still bring garbage to the Community Recycling Centre.


For more information on Kaiser Meadows, visit their website.

 
Employment Opportunities

Please note: All employment opportunities presently available within the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre will be posted on the main employment page of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.

View all Employment Opportunities

 

Read more...
 
Hours and Location
Our hours are:
April – October: Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
November – March: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
& Saturday, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

 

Here’s how you can reach us:
908 Mullock Road
Whynotts Settlement, NS  B4V 2W2
P: (902) 543-2991
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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