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Education & Resources
Our goal: to provide effective and sustainable waste management in West Hants that promotes both an economically and environmentally viable community, now and for future generations.
Although the Municipal Government has a very important role to play, it's important to understand that effective, sustainable waste management begins at an individual level. This section of our website is an educational tool to enable you - the individual - to make informed decisions that will help us create a more sustainable future; one that involves less waste!
What do I do with Used Needles?
Imagine you get pricked by a used needle! Scary? You bet! It happened to a workers at the waste management facility and someone doing curbside cleanup! Check out the news clip on the incident here.
Did you know that Sharps Containers are FREE from any pharmacy in Nova Scotia if you are a residential sharps user? It's pretty simple to get one and once it's filled, bring it back to the pharmacy and they'll give you another one!
We remind everyone to do their part in putting waste in its proper place, not only for the role it plays in helping to protect our environment but for public safety too!
The Waste Resource Association of Nova Scotia put out a series of videos to explain how an accidental prick from a needle sticking out of a garbage bag or travelling trhough a recycling line can change the lives of the people tasked with dealing with waste kknown as the "Don't be a Prick" campaign. The videos feature real workers from a facility in Colechester and reminds residents that your curbside is someone elses workplace. Click on one of the following links to see some of the videos.
Warning these videos contain strong language.
Video 1; Video 2; Video 3; Video 4
Prevent Plumbing Problems &
Protect the Quality of our Water
Our sewer system isn't designed to dispose of anything beyond human waste, toilet paper and wastewater.
Even products labelled "flushable"
should not be flushed.
If it doesn't affect your household plumbing, it can create issues within the municipal sewer system and wastewater treatment facilities, resulting in costly maintenance and repairs. Being kind to your pipes saves everyone money.
Certain materials can also have a serious effect on the environment. Our wastewater treatment facility operates on a delicate balance of microbes and is designed to process human waste and biodegradable tissue only. Most of the inorganic solids can be separated before the process begins, but any chemicals that enter the treatment facility has the potential to kill off the bacteria it depends on and will make its way into receiving waters. This includes pharmaceuticals, vitamins, chemical fertilizers, and harsh cleaning products. Even large quantities of nutrient-rich food byproducts, sugars, and yeast can offset the microbial balance - this is like candy to the bacteria and they will essentially eat themselves to death instead of creating new cells. Wow!
Please think before you flush and help keep our wastewater systems clear!
Unsure where something belongs?
Go to our Waste App: R6Recycles to learn how to properly dispose of all waste items.
Update: Curbside Composting Program
The following infographics highlight our progress in the first 10 months of the curbside composting program in West Hants. Thank you for a job well done!
Items NOT Included in Roadside Collection
Important: These materials either pose a serious threat to collection and facility workers, or will cause detrimental effects on surrounding human and ecological populations if not disposed of properly. Do your part to make sure they end up where they belong!
Why was my household waste not collected?
To find out why your waste may have been missed or rejected, click one of the following waste streams:
Green Cart
Recycling
Garbage
Bulky Item
Special Collection: Metal
Composting 101: Using a Mini-Bin in Your Home
Unless you don't mind running out to the green bin every time you peel a banana, blow your nose, or make a cup of tea, you'll need to find a way to collect compostable items in your home until you're ready to take them out. We like to refer to these compost collection containers as "mini-bins."
Note: West Hants does not allow disposal of any plastic compost bags in the green cart, as they present several issues for collectors, compost facility workers, and those who buy and use the end product. THIS INCLUDES bags labelled "biodegradable." We understand this may be an inconvenience to some residents, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation. To give you a better composting experience, we've provided multiple alternatives to using plastic catchment bags, along with other tips and tricks for maintaining a clean, odourless mini-bin!
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