Bag Tag Program

The Solid Waste Department uses bag tags to inform residents about a possible problem with their blue bag(s), green cart or their garbage bags. If a collector detects a problem with a resident's materials during collection, a bag tag may be left on the uncollected materials to inform the residents.

Blue Bag Tag: A Bright Green Sticker is used for the blue bag tag

If you notice a BRIGHT GREEN sticker placed on one or more of your blue bags following collection, it could mean the collector detected a problem with your blue bag materials. A tag is placed on your bag to inform you about this problem.

The Blue Bag Sticker placed on an uncollected blue bag would contain the following information:

Your Blue Bags placed out for municipal collection were not in compliance with CBRM's Solid Waste Management By-Law for one or more of the following reasons:

Containers & plastic materials and your paper products were placed inside clear bags (Containers & plastics and paper products must be placed in blue translucent blue bags only).
Containers & plastic materials and your paper products were placed in the same blue bag (Containers & plastic materials get placed in a separate blue bag from paper products).
Blue Bag(s) contain incorrect materials (I.E. Styrofoam, food waste, soiled paper products, gift wrap, ribbons, tissue paper, batteries, propane cylinders, plastic toys, diapers, etc.).
Blue Bag(s) contain needles, syringes, lancets, auto injectors or infusion sets (These items must be placed inside a Safe Sharps Container available for FREE at any local pharmacy or Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA). When filled, you can return your container to any local pharmacy or CDA at no cost. These items do not get placed curbside for collection.
Containers & plastics placed in blue bags still contain food residue (Food residue must be rinsed out of containers and plastics before placed in blue bag).
Blue Bag(s) are ripped or torn. (Blue bags must have a thickness sufficient to prevent breakage, tearing or splitting upon collection).
Blue Bag(s) are not tied securely. (Blue bag(s) must be tied securely at top to ensure contents of bag(s) cannot escape)
Cardboard was not placed according to curbside requirements (Cardboard can be placed inside a blue bag used for paper products or must be tied in bundles no larger than 2 ft x 3ft x 8 inches).
Contents of blue bag(s) is too heavy (Weight of blue bag(s) must not exceed 12 kg (25 lbs)).
Blue Bag(s) placed curbside are too large (Blue bags shall have an overall length between 0.5 meters and 1 meter when empty).
Blue Bag(s) are placed too far from curb/roadside (Blue bags must be placed at end of driveway and/or at edge of property abutting the street, road or highway without obstructing the street, road or highway).
Blue Bag(s) are not clearly visible curbside (Blue bags placed inside a bin, covered by a blanket, or not accessible to collector will not be collected).
Blue Bags were tied together (Blue bags tied together are difficult to dispose of properly in the collection vehicle).
Blue Bag(s) contain hardcover books (Hardcovers from books must be removed and placed inside your clear garbage bag).

Green Cart Tag: A White Card is used for the green cart tag

If you notice a WHITE CARD attached to the handle of your green cart or sticking outside of the closed lid of your green cart following collection, it could mean the collector detected a problem with the contents of your green cart. The Green Cart tag is attached to the green cart to inform you about this problem.

The Green Cart Tag attached to your green cart handle or sticking out from the lid of your green cart would contain the following information:

Green Cart placed out for municipal collection was not in compliance with CBRM's Solid Waste Resource Management By-Law for one or more of the following reasons:

Green cart was placed too far from curb/roadside. (Collection is curbside only. All regulation containers must be placed at end of a driveway and/or at the edge of a property abutting the street, road or highway without obstructing the street, road or highway).
Green cart was placed incorrectly curbside. (Green cart must be placed at the curb in an upright position with the lid closed and the front of the green cart facing the street, road or highway).
Lid of green cart was not closed. (Green cart must be placed at the curb in an upright position with the lid closed and the front of the green cart facing the street, road or highway).
Unacceptable bin liners were used to dispose of your organic waste. (Liners must contain this logo).

Green cart contains incorrect materials. (Contents of green cart contains plastic, containers, metal/tin/aluminum containers, household garbage, glass, rocks, Styrofoam, wood, branches larger than 1 inch in diameter, animal feces, kitty litter, batteries, aersol cans or other incorrect items).
Green cart contains needles, lancets or syringes (These items must be disposed of in a Safe Sharps Container available free of charge any local pharmacy. When filled, a Safe Sharps Container must be returned to any pharmacy in CBRM).
Green cart contains ashes or soot. (Ashes or soot must be double bagged in clear, plastic disposable watertight garbage bags. Each bag must be securely tied and marked "ashes" or "soot").
Green cart contains an animal carcass. (Non-collectible waste means all material not eligible for curbside collection and without limitations including carcasses or parts of any animal except food waste).
Green cart contains sods. (Unused sods can be taken to CBRM's Waste Management site year-round or one of the seasonal leaf and yard drop-off sites open one day a week between May & November).
Green cart contents are too heavy. (Weight of green cart may cause damage to lift on vehicle).
Contents of green cart were stuck/frozen to the inside of the green cart. (Some materials may remain insided cart following collection, due to cold temperatures, damp conditions, etc.).
Civic address placed more than one green cart curbside for collection. (A maximum of 1 green cart may be placed curbside for collection at a civic address).
Green cart contains a wasp, hornet or bees nest. (Residents are responsible for the care and cleaning of their green cart to ensure the safe removal of its contents by collector).
Garbage bags and/or blue bags are placed inside green cart for disposal. (Separate containers must be provided for garbage, organic waste and for recyclable waste).
Green cart is damaged and was unsafe to empty. (Please contact the hotline (902)567-1337 to report your damaged green cart).

Garbage Tag: A Bright Orange Sticker is used for the garbage bag tag.

If you notice a BRIGHT ORANGE sticker placed on one or more of your garbage bags following collection, it could mean the collector detected a problem with your garbage.　 A tag is placed on your bag to inform you about this problem.

The Garbage Tag placed on an uncollected garbage bag would contain the following information:

Your Garbage Bags placed out for municipal collection were not in compliance with CBRM's Solid Waste Management By-Law for one or more of the following reasons:

More than ONE dark, colored or tinted garbage bag was placed curbside for collection. (Residents are reminded that only 1 dark, colored or tinted bag can be placed curbside for garbage collection each week. Additional materials must be placed in clear, transparent garbage bags).
Filled grocery bags are placed inside clear bags (residents are reminded that materials must be disposed of loosely inside clear garbage bags).
The number of garbage bag(s) placed curbside exceeds the 5 bag limit (The maximum number of garbage bags allowed curbside each week is 5).
Garbage bag(s) contain recyclables, paper products, and/or organic waste materials. (Recyclables & paper products get disposed of in blue, transparent blue bags. Organic waste must get placed inside your green cart.)
Garbage Bag(s) contain leaves, grass clippings and/or twigs. (These materials are not collected curbside. A small amount can be placed in with your organic waste inside your green cart.)
Garbage bags are too heavy (Weight of each garbage bag must not exceed 12 kg (25lbs)).
Garbage bags contain needles, lancets or syringes (These items must be disposed of in a Safe Sharps container available free of charge at all local pharmacies across CBRM).
Garbage bag(s) contain loose, broken glass or sharp protruding object(s) (These items must be placed inside a secure container or box and properly labeled as broken glass or sharp protruding object before placing inside your garbage bag).
Garbage bag(s) were placed too far from curb/roadside (Garbage must be placed at end of driveway and/or at edge of property abutting the street, road or highway without obstructing the street, road or highway).
Garbage bag(s) contain household special waste material (These materials must be safely disposed of at CBRM's Household Special Waste Depot located at 345 Gulf Crescent in Sydport).
The storage container used to store garbage bags curbside does not meet curbside specifications (container(s) are unsanitary, contains a wasp nest, lid weighs more than 5 kilograms, etc)
Blue Bags were placed out on the incorrect week (To determine your blue bag week phone 567-1337 or visit CBRM's website at www.cbrm.ns.ca)
Garbage materials placed loosely in a can without the use of a garbage bag (Contents of container must be contained inside a garbage bag inside the can).

Clear Garbage Bag: Reminder Notice

If you notice a BRIGHT BLUE CARD hanging off the handle of your green cart or placed inside your door or mail box following collection, it means the collector is reminding you ONLY 1 Dark Garbage Bag can be used during curbside collection.

CBRM Waste collectors will leave a Bright Blue Clear Bag reminder card at civic addresses across CBRM that have placed more than ONE DARK Garbage Bag curbside on their area’s collection day. Although each civic address is permitted to place a maximum of 5 garbage bags each week. Only ONE of those 5 bags must be dark! The remaining garbage bags your household may use, MUST BE CLEAR.

Following the receipt of a Reminder Card, any additional dark bags used by that address, going forward, will be tagged and left behind. If your address receives a BLUE reminder card, you are encouraged to contact the Waste Management Hotline if you have questions or require assistance with disposal in CBRM.

The BLUE CARD issued to addresses still using more than ONE Dark garbage bag will contain the following information:

IMPORTANT RESIDENTIAL COLLECTION NOTICE

PLEASE READ

Your address has received this notice because more than ONE DARK garbage bag has been used for garbage collection today.

The collector has removed your waste today however; CLEAR garbage bags must be used when placing MORE THAN ONE garbage bag curbside for collection. Going forward, any additional dark bags placed curbside will be tagged and left uncollected.

Please Remember:

Your address is permitted to place a maximum of 5 garbage bags curbside each week. Only ONE of those 5 bags can be dark! The remaining garbage bags used, MUST BE CLEAR.

The Solid Waste Department's Bag Tag Program is an important educational tool used by municipal collectors to inform residents about a collection problem. Residents are encouraged to contact the Waste Management Hotline if they have questions or complaints about curbside collection. Educators are available to respond to inquiries and complaints from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday.