It can be challenging to find a waste management system that works effectively in apartment buildings. Waste left in dumpsters in anonymous, and can lead to people not taking responsibility for sorting their waste.

When this happens, significantly higher tipping fees can be issued to the landlord for dropping-off unsorted waste, or the waste may be rejected completely and have to be resorted before it can be brought back.

But when a recycling program works, it can save the landlord significant money in tipping fees by reducing the amount of garbage.

Consider having the public outreach team at the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre come in to give a recycling presentation to tenants. Or, when accepting new tenants, include a mandatory visit from the recycling centre staff to answer any questions and help the tenant recycle right.

If you have any questions, call us at 543-2913 or 543-4277. We have experience working with apartment buildings and can help you set up an effective recycling program. 

Set Up a Recycling Program

Nova Scotia business owners are responsible by law to provide receptacles that allow the public and employees to sort waste, and ensure that waste is properly sorted before it is picked-up for disposal.

Not only is unsorted waste illegal, but it costs more money in tipping fees and may result in the wastebeing rejected from the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Center.

Create a Waste Policy

Clearly define roles and responsibilities for your staff and help them understand why they need to sort waste. Include the procedures and guidelines for your recycling program in all employee orientation and occupational health and safety sessions.

Talk to your staff; find out who wants to lead teh recycling challenge for your business. Work with your staff to determine the kinds of waste that you generate and have a waste sorting guide posted clearly for your employees to use as a reference. Training your staff regularly and ensuring new employees know 'what goes where' is essential to your success.

Make it easy for customers to sort waste. Set-up bins designed for sorting organics, recycleables, and garbage. Customizing your bin with signs and photographs of your business waste will help customers and staff sort waste properly.

For more ideas, or for help setting up a waste management program in your business, please contact the ppublic outreach team at the Community Recycling Center at 543-2913. We'll visit your business, answer any questions about uncertain items, make suggestions for bin placement and set-up—even provide staff recycling training

You can also check out the "Sorting it Out" brochure from the Resource Recovery Fund Board, which provides great infromation about recycling programs specifically for food services buisness owners.

Commercial Waste Collection

The contact details provided below are for informational purposes only and the Community Recycling Center does not endorse any particular companies or tier services. If you would like your company listed on our website, please call us at 543-2913.

Leroy Whynot General Trucking: 543-2586

GEs All Trucking: 543-1103

R&R Junk Removal: 530-5865

For green cart cleaning, call Mobile Spray and Wash: 527-8701 or 543-2480 

Setting up a Recycling Program

Setting up recycling and composting programs in schools can be challenging and complex.

For the program to be successful, everyone from the principal to teachers, students and the janitorial staff must be on board! Our public outreach team is happy to help your school develop a successful recycling and composting program; just give us a call at 543-2913.

Green Teams

The ‘Green Team’ model outlines a three meeting formula for establishing an effective recycling program for schools.

Meeting #1

Our public outreach team meets with the school principal or designated teacher to discuss details involved in establishing a  recycling program. We suggest setting up a ‘Green Team’ with representatives from all the schools stakeholders, including principal, teachers, students and custodians. 

Our team will review what bins and signage are already being used and will make recommendations for what else is needed. A letter will be sent to the Waste Champion (Green Team leader) outlining our suggestions and confirming a date for the next meeting. The Waste Champion should make arrangements to have the bins and signs put in place as soon as possible.

Meeting #2

This involves our team going through a sorting exercise with the Green Team who can relay the information to other students. It is particularly useful for students to see samples of the materials as they move through the recycling process. For example, we show them a pop bottle, the bottle after it has been processed, then some products made from the bottle; such as fabric, rope, file folders and t-shirts.

Meeting #3

This meeting is a chance to ensure the recycling and composting program is now operational. Our team checks that all necessary bins and signs are in place, that the waste is being put in the correct dumpsters, and that the hauler is delivering the waste to the Recycling Centre correctly separated.

The public outreach team can answer any questions and ensure that the program is fully functional. Then it becomes the responsibility of the Waste Champion and Green Team to keep the recycling program up and running—ensuring the bins, signs and training for new staff is maintained.

Yearly Updates

The public outreach team will schedule an annual meeting with the Waste Champion and/or Green Team to address any challenges, and ensure the program is running smoothly.

Presentations

Interested in having a guest speaker talk to your class or community group about reducing, reusing, recycling and composting? Call our public outreach team at 543-2913. They are enthusiastic, energetic experts who love sharing their knowledge about waste management.

Our educators offer a wide variety of fun, interactive presentations. They can speak to your class or your entire school and can adapt information to any age group. Presentations can also be tailored to match classroom work or curriculum outcomes.

Presentation activities may include:

• Sorting activities and information
• Crafts & Games (Spin the wheel, Jeopardy, relays, trivia)
• Videos or PowerPoint presentations
• Composting workshops
• School greening information
• Local waste issues and solutions
• Many examples of how to reduce, reuse, recycling and compost.

For an unforgettable learning experience, book your public outreach educator by calling 543-2913.

Moby S. Loop

Moby S. Loop is part of RRFB Nova Scotia’s education and awareness team. Moby travels to schools, festivals and other events all over Nova Scotia to support local efforts to promote waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting. He is a remote-controlled robot who can speak, shake hands, sing songs, and even do a “recycling dance.”

Click here to book Moby for your class or school event!
http://www.rrfb.com/teachers/booking_moby.cfm

Tour the Community Recycling Centre

We would be happy to give your class a tour of our facility. We’re quite proud of what we do here at the Community Recycling Centre and we love to show kids around (even the chaperones learn a thing or two). It’s a rewarding experience for everyone! Call us at 543-2913 to arrange a visit. 

Funding for Non-Profits Promoting Recycling and Composting

RRFB Nova Scotia provides funding for events or initiatives with a focus on waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting.

Funding of up to $500 is provided for events that are "going green," community gathering points that require recycling and composting containers, and more.

For application details, visit RRFB Nova Scotia's website and click on "Community Sponsorship Application."

Setting-up a Recycling Program

We are happy to help you set up a successful recycling program at your special event. Whether it's a small workshop or a multi-day event that attracts thousands of people; whatever the event, they all produce garbage. The public outreach team can lend you a sorting station and provide signage free of charge. Give us a call at 543-2913.

Information Booths

The Community Recyclign Center is please to provide an information booth at your event. This gives the public outreach team a chance to talk to attendees about available programs and waste reduction information. Call us at 543-2913 to have us at your event.

Waste Reduction Tips at Events

• Wherever there is a garbage can, there should also be a recycling bin placed next to it; especially in high traffic areas. People are unlikely to go out of their way to recycle if a trash can is more conveniently available.
• Make sure recycling containers look different than trash cans, such as different colour or shapes. Clearly indicate which materials are put in each container by making sure bins are well marked with large print, specific wording, and even graphics.
• If there are vendors selling beverages or food, serve reusable (or biodegradable) cups, dishes and cutlery or choose containers that can be recycled; remember, Styrofoam is not recycleable!
• Ask vendors to serve condiments (i.e. ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonaise, salt and pepper) in bulk rather than individual packages.
• Typically, vendors and exhibitors produce most of the corrugated cardboard waste at special events, so cardboard recycling points can be located behind the scenes, near dumpsters. If sufficient staff is available, they can circulate around vendors to collect cardboard as it is generated—the added convenience may encourage vendors, who were not otherwise inclined, to recycle.

Check out our waste reduction page for more tips to reduce your waste.