Solid Waste Strategy Review

Overview

HRM is currently conducting a Solid Waste Strategy Review. There are several reasons for this initiative, including the need to align the solid waste system with the municipality’s climate change action plan, HalifACT, and new provincial Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation that will result in major changes to HRM’s recycling program. The New Strategy will also contribute towards meeting the Province of Nova Scotia’s goal of reducing Nova Scotia’s waste disposal rate to 300 kg per capita by 2030. Additionally, there is a need to update the municipality’s solid waste strategy, given that the last review was completed in 2014.

The Solid Waste Strategy Review commenced in February 2023 and is expected to take approximately two years to complete.

As part of the Solid Waste Strategy Review, memos and reports have been prepared to explore a number of different options for updating and improving HRM’s solid waste system. These include:

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Jurisdictional Review
• Institutional, Commercial, & Industrial (ICI) and Multi-Residential Properties Best Practices
• 2023 Organic Waste Audit
• Phase One Consultation Survey Results
• Benchmarking (pending)
• Material Recovery Facility and Household Special Waste Depot Assessment (pending)
• Repurposing Burnside Composting Facility Assessment (pending)
• Solar Farm Assessment at Ragged Lake Composting Facility (pending)
• Cart-Based Collection Assessment (pending)
• Sheet Harbour Rural Refuse Depot Facility Assessment (pending)

Copies of these documents can be found on the right-hand side of this page. Further memos and reports are anticipated as part of the Solid Waste Strategy Review. New documents will be updated on this page as they are completed.

Public Consultation

The first phase of public consultation for the Solid Waste Strategy Review occurred in the fall of 2023. The purpose of this public consultation was to gain public input that will guide the development of the New Strategy. Some of the themes explored in the public consultation included:

1. Proposed objectives of the New Strategy
2. Current service levels (participation in programs) and
3. Resident satisfaction.

As part of the public consultation process, a public survey was created. The survey was available between September 25 and November 27, 2023, and was supported by an extensive promotional campaign. There were 1,638 responses to the survey.

The following are a few of the key themes that emerged from the survey results:

• The new waste strategy should continue prioritizing initiatives that promote waste reduction, reuse, and recycling of waste resources, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility.
• Working collaboratively to reduce single-use plastic is important.
• It is important that the Strategy align with HalifACT goals and contribute to the 2022 Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, which aims to reduce Nova Scotia's disposal rate to 300 kg per capita by 2030.

The Public Consultation Report can be found on the right-hand side of this page.

The next phase of public consultation will begin in the Fall of 2024. Information regarding the next phase of public consultation will be included on this page.

Background on the Solid Waste Strategy Review can be found in the Solid Waste Strategy Review Terms of Reference.

This project is partially funded by the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund, a provincial grant initiative administered by the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities. This fund supports the implementation of initiatives that avoid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to Nova Scotia’s emission reduction targets.

More information on the solid waste strategy review is available here.