Curbside collection of garbage and recyclable material is one of the many conveniences enjoyed by most residents of the region. To prevent this service from creating an issue in our neighbourhoods, property owners are required to abide by curbside solid waste regulations.
What are my responsibilities as a property owner?
Property owners are responsible for the condition of their property at all times. Property owners must:
- Keep the curbside free of debris.
- Place organic green cart, collectible garbage, and recyclables at the curbside no earlier than 7:00 p.m. the evening before the scheduled collection day and no later than 7:00 a.m. the morning of the scheduled collection day (green cart, collectible garbage, and recyclables).
- If high winds are forecasted, residents are asked to secure their solid waste when placing curbside for collection. Residents may choose to stack heavier bags on top of lighter bags if possible. Residents may choose to place bags out on the morning of collection, before 7:00 a.m., instead of the night before. Collection can start as early as 7:00 am.
- Remove organic green cart, garbage containers and any materials not collected by 9:00 p.m. on the scheduled collection day.
What if my waste is rejected?
Curbside collection requires that residents sort their waste into blue bag recycling, paper recycling, corrugated cardboard, organics, and garbage. Improperly sorted waste, or waste that exceeds limits for black bags or bulky items, may receive a rejection sticker issued by the waste haulers. For waste sorting guidelines, visit halifax.ca/whatgoeswhere or download the Halifax Recycles App.
Common reasons for rejections include:
- Unacceptable materials (e.g., paper, recyclables, or organics) in garbage bag
- Paper and blue bag recyclables comingled in the same bag
- Black or clear garbage bags exceeding limits
- Bulky items exceeding limits
- Loose material placed curbside (all material must be bagged or bundled)
- Plastic in green bin
There is no limit for blue bag recycling, paper recycling, or corrugated cardboard placed curbside (residential waste only, no business waste permitted). For more information on garbage collection limits, visit the garbage collection page.
If you receive a rejection sticker on collection day, you are responsible for removing the rejected material from the curb and correcting the issue before placing it out the next collection day.
What happens if I don’t obey by the bylaws?
If your property is in violation of curbside solid waste regulations, you’ll receive a 24 Hour Order requiring you to remove the improperly placed solid waste, organic green cart, or garbage containers from the curbside.
If you don’t comply with the order, it will result in the municipal government removing the materials and issuing an invoice to the property owner for the cost of the removal. The property owner may also be issued a Summary Offence Ticket of $237.50 or greater.
What should I do if my neighbour is improperly placing curbside solid waste?
Residents who are experiencing an issue with improperly placed curbside solid waste should:
- Speak to the property owner. The property owner may not be aware of curbside solid waste regulations.
- Call 311, if you are unable/unwilling to contact the property owner or have spoken with the property owner but there has been no attempt to address the issue.
When reporting improperly placed curbside solid waste issues, residents should provide the complete civic address of the property where the improperly placed curbside solid waste is located.