Changes to recycling strategy in Halifax expected to save taxpayers $4M

Halifax will allow more paper and plastic in its recycling strategy.

Changes are coming to Halifax’s recycling strategy and what you can toss in the bin.

Items like hot and cold drink containers, deodorant sticks, toothpaste tubes and frozen juice containers will now go in blue bags for pick-up.

Beginning Dec. 1, Nova Scotia will transition to extended producer responsibility (EPR), with Circular Materials assuming responsibility for the residential recycling program across the province. The initiative will also include collecting recyclable materials from multi-family dwellings, schools and campgrounds throughout Nova Scotia.

“Nova Scotia has a long history of leadership in waste diversion, and this critical step builds on this experience and strengthens that legacy,” Circular Materials CEO Allen Langdon says in a release. “Through EPR, we are creating a more consistent, modern recycling system that expands what residents can recycle, improves material recovery, and advances a circular economy that benefits people, communities, and the environment.”

Companies that produce paper and packaging will now cover the costs instead of municipalities. The move is expected to save Halifax taxpayers more than $4-million.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page