Re-Opening of East Hants Waste Management Centre

The following items are to be disposed in a GARBAGE bag. Please ensure bags are tied securely for collection.

• Facial tissues
  • Tissues are disposed in the garbage as a safety precaution to limit the risk of disease transmission.
• Disinfecting wipes
• Paper towels used for cleaning
• Bathroom waste (i.e. hygiene products, diapers)
• Nitrile or latex gloves
• Face masks
• Flushable wipes – do not flush
• Items that cannot be cleaned that were used by a person who is sick

To stay up-to-date on solid waste management services, sign up for service alerts at easthants.ca/solid-waste. This includes curbside collection and Waste Management Centre service alerts. Alerts are available as email, text message or phone call.

Some residents have been to the site before and for some this will be their first visit. The following are important reminders for everyone coming in:

1. Expect delays. The site has been closed to the public since March 19^th.
2. Line Up Safely. We encourage you to pull to the side (with your blinker on) so should emergency vehicles need access on the road they can get by.
3. Please be patient. We have opted not to book appointments, as some facilities have decided to do. It is our hope that the process we have designed will be efficient and will allow the greatest number of vehicles to be managed (compared to an appointment process).
4. Stay in your vehicle. Please stay in your vehicle at all times - except when unloading your materials.
5. Weigh In & Out. All vehicles need to be weighed. Stay in your vehicle and simply roll down your window for staff to gather your information at the Scale House.
6. Follow all directions. Staff will direct you to where to unload your materials. Do not stop at any other locations.
7. Maintain physical distance. This includes between yourself, staff and other site users.
8. Please be efficient unloading. With multiple vehicles looking to unloading materials please ensure you have all necessary equipment you may need and do not socialize – we want to process as many vehicles we can.
9. Staff are unable to assist unloading.

Phase 2 will see the facility fully operational Monday to Friday opening at 8:00 a.m. Gates will close at 3:30 p.m. Saturday we open at 8:00 a.m. and gates close at 1:30 p.m.

Illegally dumping of waste or burning of waste is prohibited and is punishable by fines.

• Please contact Nova Scotia Environment to report burning of wastes at 902-424-7773.
• To report illegal dumping please report to our Solid Waste Hotline at 1-888-873-3332.

Safe Sharps disposal program:

• Pharmacies may now have supplies of proper sharps containers, where there were limited supplies earlier in the spring. Speak to your pharmacy directly on supplies and status of drop-off for full containers.
• Sharps or sharps containers are never to be placed in your regular garbage.

• Observe social-distancing guidelines (2 meters/6 feet) established by Public Health when a collection driver is on your property.
• Wipe the handles of your garbage cans or green carts with a disinfectant between uses (pre and post collection).
• Follow proper hand-washing guidelines when handling any waste material, garbage cans or green carts.
• It is very important that any material used while sick, like tissues, masks, disinfecting wipes, disposable gloves and bathroom products (i.e. hygiene products, diapers) go in the regular garbage bag and that the bag is securely tied for collection.
• Only place carts or bagged materials out when necessary (if your cart is less than half full, consider waiting for your next scheduled collection).
• Garbage and recyclables must be in bags that are tightly tied for collection.

Solid waste collection and processing have been identified as an industry exempt from social distancing and 5-person limits under the Health Protection Act Order (revised March 26, 2020). However, precautions are still being taken.

• Collection workers and staff in our facilities wear personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves, work clothing, masks, etc.) to protect them from the hazards they encounter on a daily basis.
• Safe workplace practices are being followed (e.g. social distancing, health checks, frequent hand-washing).
• Collection vehicles and equipment are being cleaned and sanitized with a higher frequency.

• Many organizations that collect textile and household item donations have temporarily suspended collection. This includes many thrift stores.
• Please hold on to donations and keep these organizations in mind once collection has resumed.
• Contact information for the larger organizations:
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters halifax.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca or 902-454-4025
  • Diabetes Canada diabetes.ca/declutter or 1-800-505-5525
  • Salvation Army thriftstore.ca or 902-430-6179

• Essential waste materials are those which will cause odours or attract pests if left where they were generated – regular garbage and household organics (food waste).
• Non-essential organics materials include yard and tree debris.
• Non-essential waste materials include twine, wood, plastics, dirty silage wrap, shingles, etc. These materials are to be stored where generated until the Public Health directives have been lifted, thereby allowing us to lift our restrictions. Alternatively, resident may rent commercial dumpsters for their projects.

• The Municipality of Colchester facility has closed to ensure the safety of their employees and to remain compliant with Public Health recommendations during the pandemic.
• The Colchester Materials Recovery facility is the processor for East Hants blue bag materials (recyclables). With their closure, materials collected in East Hants have been stored at the East Hants Waste Management Centre.
  • Regular curbside recyclables collection is unaffected at this time. Material set out for collection will continue to be picked up.
  • Residents can opt to store recyclables until the facility reopens, and then place materials out for collection.
• East Hants will need to send some recyclables to landfill this is due to storage safety concerns. However, this will be done as needed only. Alternatives for processing have already been found for some materials.

Beginning June 18^th the East Hants Waste Management Centre will re-open to full services and hours.

• Like all high-touch surfaces, proper cleaning should take place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Residents may wipe the handles of their garbage cans or green carts with a disinfectant between uses (pre and post collection).
• Follow proper hand-washing guidelines when handling any waste material, garbage cans or green carts.
• As always, all materials must be secured in bags for collection.

• Proper sorting of materials is to continue. We would recommend that residents:
  • Keep clothing and other approved textiles separate from other recyclables. These materials should be stored until charity donations resume.
  • Follow our best practices for managing tissues, gloves, and masks – all items go in the regular garbage.

• Yes, please call the Solid Waste Hotline (1-888-873-3332) to have your information added to our delivery/repair sheets.
• Residents are encouraged to wipe the handles of their green carts with a disinfectant when it is received.

• YES! Please continue to sort as usual. It is important to sort properly to ensure your material is collected. Proper sorting limits operations staff interaction with your material.
• Since our regular recycling facility closed at the end of March, East Hants has been able to send over 45 tonnes of material for recycling processing in Kentville.
• You can also choose to safely store recyclables until our operations return to normal.
• We hope to have an update on the status of the recycling facility by June 30^th.

• There are no changes to curbside collection limits.

• Currently curbside waste collection is following its regular schedule.
• For the most up to date information on collection you can sign-up for service alerts and search What Goes Where.