Setting up effective recycling and composting programs within the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (IC&I) sectors can be challenging and complex. These organizations (such as supermarkets, schools, hospitals, and restaurants) require specific tools and assistance due to the high number of staff, staff turnover, and the high volume of waste generated. It is recommended that regular face-to-face meetings are used to address complex waste management issues. For the programs to be successful, all levels of management, staff, students, custodians/janitors and the waste hauler must be involved. 

It is essential that the roles and responsibilities be defined at the beginning of the process and wherever possible, the development of a waste management policy is encouraged by the Community Recycling Centre. To set-up a program in your business or school, please contact the Public Outreach Team at the Community Recycling Centre at 543-2913—we're here to help by providing analysis, audits, and advice.

If the business is small enough, some organizations choose to use curbside collection to dispose of their waste. To find out when collection in your area is scheduled, check the map, or give us a call at 543-2991.

If however, your business produces too much waste for curbside collection, you may choose to hire a waste hauler to collect and dispose of waste. There are a number of haulers in the area; check around for reccomendations and prices to find the hauler that best suits your business needs.

Business of the Month Program
Identifying business leaders in waste management and publicly acknowledging their efforts has proven to be very successful. The Public Outreach Team set up the Business of the Month program in 2005, evaluating successful recycling programs and providing them with a Waste Management Award. The criteria was developed with Region 6 staff and a framed certificate and door decal is awarded every month to a business. Winners are promoted in the Bridgewater Bulletin, Lighthouse Log, featured daily on CKBW, and receive front page recognition on our website. Businesses in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg and the Towns of Bridgewater, Lunenburg, and Mahone Bay are encouraged to call the Community Recycling Centre to become the next business of the month.   

Spring and Fall Clean Up within the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg will be collected differently starting Spring 2012.

Landfill and Metal items will be collected together during the first half of Clean Up. Wood cannot be placed in the Landfill pile.

Wood only will be collected during the second half of Clean Up.

All types of Wood will be collected separately during the second half of Clean Up. Wood is a reusable material and must be diverted from landfill. Residents place a lot of wood at the roadside for Clean Up each year. Metal Clean Up volumes have decreased significantly, so metal will now be collected with landfill and separated upon delivery to the Community Recycling Centre. Metal will still be recycled. For more information about Clean Up changes call 543-2991.

Clean Up dates and limits differ in the Towns and Municipality. Please read the information specific to your area. Before you throw things away, why not see if they can be used by someone else? Check out our reuse page for alternatives to throwing things away.

Spring and Fall Clean Up Dates 2012

Spring Clean Up and Special Collection Dates

Fall Clean-Up and Special Collection Dates

Collection Limits and Regulations

Municipality of the District of Lunenburg

Leaves
Leaves are collected throughout the year in the Municipality, not just on a specified date as in the Towns. Three clear bags may be placed for collection during regularly scheduled collection in the Municipality. Please place clean up items and regular household waste in separate piles for collection; they are collected by different trucks on the same day.

Landfill
The maximum weight for a single item is 25 kilograms (55 pounds), and the maximum pile size is 3 cubic metres (4 cubic yards). No item can be longer than 1.8 metres or (6 feet).

Metal
When disposing of metal, please note the maximum weight for a single item is 25 kilograms (55 pounds), and the maximum pile size is 1 cubic metre (1.2 cubic yards).

Guidelines for Metal Disposal:

• Fridges and freezers must have the doors removed, and must display the green Nova Scotia Department of Environment ‘Refrigerant-Free’ sticker.
• Small auto parts will be collected if all lubricants and coolants have been drained. No engine blocks or transmissions will be collected.
• Please drain all gas and oil from lawn mowers.
• Break down swing sets into pieces no longer than 1.8 metres (6 feet).
• Drain 200 gallon drums and cut in half; drain 45 gallon drums and remove one end.
• Paint cans which are empty and dry may be placed in your metal pile. Cans containing liquid paint must be dropped off at your local ENVIRO-DEPOT™ or the Household Hazardous Waste Depot at the Community Recycling Centre.
• Refillable propane tanks and tires must be returned to the dealer. 

Under the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Bylaw, clean up items may only be placed curbside a maximum of four days before your collection date. If you put out too much or your items are not sorted correctly, they may be left behind. You will need to remove them by noon the following day.

Towns of Lunenburg, Bridgewater and Mahone Bay

No item can weigh more than 50 kilograms (110 pounds) or be longer than 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) in any dimension. All items must be conveniently packaged and not include any regular pickup items. Town residents must place their leaves for collection on the specified leaf collection dates only.

 
For more information about which items are accepted during clean up, please contact the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre or your Town office:

Municipal or Town residents call Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre: (902) 543-2991        
Town of Bridgewater: (902) 541-4370        
Town of Lunenburg: (902) 634-4410        
Town of Mahone Bay: (902) 624-8327

Green carts are for the storage of organic waste between collections, such as food scraps, yard waste, and soiled paper. If you are a resident of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg and have never had a green cart, or need to replace a broken one, you can pick-up a green cart and mini bin at the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre. Residents who have long driveways, or who live on an island, may be interested in a backyard composter in lieu of a green cart to keep their organics out of the garbage and make their own compost for gardens.

Green carts are available in two sizes, 140 litres and 240 litres. Municipal residents may pick up a green cart from the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre, 908 Mullock Road, Whynott Settlement. Arrangements maybe made for delivery to residents who do not have a vehicle to pick up a cart.

If you live in any of the Towns of Lunenburg, Mahone Bay, or Bridgewater, please contact your Town Office for details about how to get a green cart for your home or business.

Town of Bridgewater: 541-4370
Town of Mahone Bay: 624-8327
Town of Lunenburg: 634-4410

For more information about what goes in your green bin, how to keep odours away in the summer, or how to keep your cart from freezing in the winter, please read our composting brochure.

We acknowledge that you have unique needs when it comes to managing your waste. 

For those of you on private roads that are collected over the summer, please take note of when your road opens; which is generally from Victoria Day weekend in May to Thanksgiving weekend in October. 

Summer residents need to become familiar with our recycling and composting programs. Nova Scotia has one of the best waste diversion programs in the world, and Lunenburg County leads Nova Scotia in many aspects of recycling. We understand this may be different from where you normally live, so feel free to familiarize yourself with our website, download our recycling guide, or call us at 543-2991 if you have any more questions about what can be recycled.

For those of you who live on an island that is not accessed by a road, call us today at 543-2991 and pickup a free backyard composter! You can also drop off your sorted waste at your nearest wharf bin.