Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Curbside Collection Information

 

 

Residents who have questions concerning their area's Garbage, Blue Bag or Green Cart Collection or other Waste Management inquiries are encouraged to phone the Waste Management Hotline at (902) 567-1337. Educators are available to respond to inquiries from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday.

For your convenience, the Waste Management Facility on SPAR Road in Sydney is OPEN from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Tuesday to Saturday. The Facility is CLOSED each Sunday and Monday.

 

Residential Curbside Collection Information

 

Curbside Collection Reminder: Are you Using Clear Garbage Bags?

Residents are reminded a maximum of five garbage bags can be placed out for curbside collection each week. Please remember, only one garbage bag you use should be dark. Any additional garbage bags you place out for collection each week must be CLEAR.

For more information on Garbage collection requirements visit: https://www.cbrm.ns.ca/garbage-collection.html

 

Curbside Collection Disposal Reminder:

The Solid Waste Department reminds residents tissues, disinfecting wipes, disposable gloves and bathroom products (i.e. hygiene products, diapers) get disposed of in with your regular garbage. These items do not belong in blue bags or in the green cart.

 

Disposable Masks

Disposable masks pose a big littering issue, and these masks are not recyclable - be sure to dispose of these in your trash after use.

 

Safe Sharps Disposal

Used needles, syringes, lancets, auto injectors and infusion sets are not accepted curbside for collection and must not get  placed in garbage bags, blue bags or your green cart.

 

Used Sharps Disposal Reminder

 

 

IMPORTANT Green Cart Collection Reminder:

Garbage or Blue Bags must not be placed inside a green cart for collection.  Green Carts containing garbage or blue bags will be tagged and left unemptied by the collector.

 

If Storm Watches Are In Effect?

The CBRM Solid Waste Department reminds residents the decision to cancel curbside collection is not normally made until the morning of a forecasted weather event. If you are concerned, about curbside collection taking place when there is a storm watch in effect, you can choose not to place your materials curbside.

• EXTRA garbage bags and green cart material will be collected on your area's next scheduled garbage and green cart collection day.

• Bllue bags will be collected on your area's NEXT regularly scheduled blue bag collection week.

 

Curbside Collection Cancellations:

If curbside collection is cancelled on your area’s regularly scheduled collection day, please remove ALL  materials from the curb.

• Extra garbage bags and green cart material will be collected on your area’s next regularly scheduled collection day.

• Blue bags will be collected on your area’s NEXT regularly scheduled blue bag collection week.

Residents who have questions about curbside collection are encouraged to contact the Waste Management Hotline at (902) 567-1337.

 

Garbage Collection

Residents living at properties eligible for curbside collection are permitted to place a maximum of 5 regular sized clear, transparent garbage bags curbside each week. ONE dark garbage bag can be used to replace one clear, transparent garbage bag each week.

Please Remember:

• Garbage bags placed curbside for collection should not exceed 12 kg (25 pounds).
• Each address is permitted to place a maximum of 5 garbage bags curbside each week.  ONE of those 5 bags can be dark! The remaining garbage bags used for collection MUST BE CLEAR.
• Food waste and table scraps must be placed in a green cart for disposal curbside.  Garbage bags containing food waste and table scraps will be tagged and left behind uncollected for residents to sort properly.

 

Medical Exemption Program:  Garbage Collection

The Solid Waste Department offers a medical exemption to households who may need to use more than one dark garbage bag per week for the disposal of materials related to a medical circumstance. The use of additional dark bags is for materials related to the medical condition only. Any additional garbage un-related to the household’s medical circumstance should be disposed of in clear garbage bags.

To learn more information on acquiring a medical exemption for your household, please contact the Waste Management Hotline at (902)567-1337. Please remember, to be eligible for a medical exemption, your household must be participating in CBRM’s Blue Bag and Green Cart Collection Programs.

 

Disposal of Used Fire Works and Sparklers:

COLD firework debris and used sparklers can be disposed of in the same garbage bag used for regular household garbage.

Please make sure the fireworks and sparklers are cold. 

Disposal of Ashes and Soot

Ashes and soot from a fireplace or wood stove can be placed in the same garbage used for regular household garbage.

Residents are reminded that ashes and soot must:

• Be COLD before placing inside your transparent clear bags.
• Be securely tied and double bagged after placing ashes inside bags.
• Weigh no more than 12 kg (approximately 25 lbs) in weight.
• Not be placed curbside loose in pails, buckets or tubs.
• Not be placed inside your green cart for disposal.

 

Blue Bag Collection

 Residents living at properties eligible for curbside collection are permitted to place an unlimited number of blue bags curbside on their area's regular blue bag collection cycle. Residents are reminded that ONLY blue, transparent bags must be used for the disposal of recyclables in CBRM. Containers & plastic materials and paper products placed in clear, transparent bags will be tagged and left behind uncollected.

Please Remember:

• Blue Bag #1 Containers & Plastics and Blue Bag #2 Paper Products must not be mixed together in the same blue, transparent bag. These items must be disposed of in separate blue bags.
• All cans, bottles, plastic containers and packaging must be empty, clean and contain no food residue.
• Contents of each blue bag placed curbside for collection should not exceed 12 kg (25 pounds).
• Recyclable materials must be placed inside Blue Bags for curbside collection.

 

The Blue Bag Collection Schedule for CBRM follows a 2 week collection rotation across the municipality. A resident can determine their area's blue bag collection schedule by:

• Contacting the Waste Management Hotline at (902) 567-1337 or
• Visiting http://www.cbrm.ns.ca/solidwaste to download the Solid Waste App from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.  Check it out today to sign up for weekly collection notifications, updates and/or to view you area's collection schedule.

 

 

 

Green Cart Collection

Residents living at properties eligible for curbside collection are reminded only one green cart will be emptied each week on your collection day.

Please Remember:

• Sods do not get placed inside your green cart for disposal. Sods can be brought to the Leaf and Yard Drop-Off Site on SPAR Road in Sydney for disposal. Residents can drop off their leaf and yard waste from 8am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday.

Mini Kitchen Bins: mini kitchen bins should not be used curbside for collection. These small mini kitchen bins are recommended for indoor use only.  Mini bins are not replaced by the Solid Waste Department. 

 

Reporting Damaged Green Carts

It is important to regularly inspect your green cart for damage. If you notice holes, small openings cracks, missing vents, or wheels, cracked lifts or lid damage, please contact the solid waste department to report the damage. Phone line staff will record your information and add your civic address to the department’s Green Cart Assessment List.
Residents who notice damage to their green cart is encouraged to phone the hotline (902) 567-1337. Educators are available to respond to inquiries 8:30am to 4pm Monday to Friday. 

 

Rodent Prevention: Helpful hints and tips

 

Rodent Proof Property

• Avoid leaving pet food bowls outside for long periods of time. Food bowls should be removed when your pet has finished eating.
• Avoid leaving food outside all night.
• Avoid leaving pet water bowls out overnight. At the end of each day when your pet is taken in for the night, you are encouraged to take in water bowls.
• Wood piles should be kept a distance from your home.
• Scan your property for possible areas where rats may hide or seek out shelter. Get rid of or move objects that may make it easy for rodents to find shelter. If these objects are something you can’t eliminate move them to an area that is not close to your home.

 

Rodent Proof Garbage Containers, Cans or Bins

Holes, cracks, or small openings in wooden bins are an easy way for rodents to get inside your garbage container or garbage bin. Regularly inspect these containers for damage.

Garbage Containers

• Make sure garbage containers are secure. Keep the lids tightly closed when not in use.
• Frequently check around garbage containers or boxes to make sure there are no new holes, cracks, or small openings that could make it easier for rodents to get inside.
• Avoid storing garbage containers near structures such as stairs or wood piles. These structures may make it easier for rodents to get inside.

 

Rodent Proof Green Cart

Holes, cracks, or missing vents in your green cart is an easy way for rodents to get inside your green cart. Regularly inspect these containers for damage.

Green Cart

• Place your green cart out for curbside collection each week even if you only have a small amount of food waste stored inside your cart for disposal.
• Rodents are attracted to food. Placing your cart out for collection every week for emptying reduces the length of time food is left inside the cart decomposing.
• Avoid storing your green cart near structures such as stairs or wood piles. These structures provide an easy way for rodents to gain access to the green cart.
• Regularly inspect your green cart. Look around vents and near wheels for holes, bite marks, and/or scrapes.

******If you notice damage to your green cart such as holes or openings near the bottom of your green cart, missing vents, or small openings in this area, please contact the waste management hotline at (902)567-1337 to report green cart damage.******

 

Secure your Garbage Containers and Green Cart

• Make sure any containers you use for storing garbage outside is secure. Keep lids or tops tightly closed when not in use.
• Make sure your green cart is always secure when not in use. Keep cart standing upright and make sure the lid remains closed when not in use.
• Inspect outside garbage containers or boxes regularly to make sure there are no holes, cracks, or openings for rodents to get inside.
• Inspect your green cart regularly. Check near the wheels and vents to make sure there are no new holes or cracks. Check to make sure vents do not contain small openings or have gone missing.

 

Green Cart Maintenance

• Regularly rinse out your green cart following collection to reduce odors.
• Line your green carts with newsprint or boxboard to reduce the chance of food waste sticking or freezing inside the cart.  It is normal for some wet or moist food waste to remain inside green cart following collection.