Garbage & Recycling for Businesses

Businesses (including restaurants, apartment buildings, and institutions) are required to have sorting programs and commercial containers for disposal of blue bag recyclables, paper and cardboard, organic materials, and garbage. Failure to provide these programs can result in a Summary Offence Ticket under  Bylaw S-600 [PDF].

Helping Businesses Navigate Biodegradable/Compostable Products 

Is your business looking for environmentally friendly alternatives to single-use items like cups or cutlery?  Are you considering purchasing "compostable" or "biodegradable" packaging? We want to help! 

New biodegradable products appear on the market regularly and we want to help businesses navigate these products. Before making the switch, contact Halifax Solid Waste at wasteless@halifax.ca to make sure the items you are considering can be composted or recycled in our program.

Collection and containers

Collection containers and service can be arranged by contacting a private waste hauler. Many local retailers sell bins that can be used inside your business. There are many styles and sizes available to fit any business.

Cracker boxes or other box board packaging, ice cream containers and coleslaw or plastic laundry pails are inexpensive and re-usable counter top mini-bin alternatives. Bio-degradable or compostable bags are not acceptable in the green bin.

Signage

You must post signs to give instructions on proper sorting to staff, tenants, or visitors. In apartment buildings that have a garbage chute, a sign must be posted telling residents where to find bins for recycling and organics collection. 

To help your employees at your business or residents in your building, consider printing and displaying the following posters, all in [PDF] format.

Garbage sign

Recyclables sign

Organics sign

Paper sign

Cardboard sign

Paper/Cardboard sign

Construction, demolition, and renovation debris

Debris from construction and demolition cannot be mixed with regular garbage and must be taken to a licensed facility in the Halifax region. This includes material such as lumber, old roofing, gyproc, and concrete. These materials are not accepted for drop-off at the Otter Lake Waste Facility.

All loads for delivery to a waste facility MUST be securely tarped.

Halifax C & D Recycling Ltd  
902-876-8644
16 Mills Drive, Goodwood 
188 Ross Road, Westphal 

Hours of operation

Monday to Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

Check with the facility operator for fees and for changes in hours of operation on or around holidays.

Hazardous wastes

Businesses are required to contact a private hazardous waste handling company for proper disposal of chemicals.

Fat, oil, and grease

Used cooking oil and trap grease must be collected by a rendering service.

Products containing mercury

The following products contain mercury:

  • CFL and fluorescent bulbs
  • thermostats
  • household thermometers 
  • button cell batteries

Light bulbs and other products containing mercury are not accepted for disposal at the Otter Lake Facility and must be handled through a private contractor.

Dan-X Recycling (64 Trider Cres, Burnside) accepts CFL and fluorescent bulbs from businesses. Inquire with Dan-X Recycling for the costs associated with these services. 

Waste facilities

All loads for delivery to a waste facility MUST be securely tarped.

Hours of operation on or around holidays may be adjusted. Visit the Waste Facility Holiday Hours page or call 3-1-1 for updates.

Otter Lake Waste Facility

Exit 3 off Highway 103

Hours of operation

Monday to Friday: 6:00 a.m.– 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday (residential drop-off area only): 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Fees

The tipping fee is $126.50 (+HST) per tonne ($12.65 per 100 kg). For loads weighing less than 100 kg, a flat fee of $5 is charged. Rates are subject to change.

Payment accepted by cash, debit, or credit card. A deposit may be required for cash customers. 

Requests for credit account application can be directed to 902-453-3490, or accounts@mirrorns.com. This includes customers with existing credit accounts with the municipality.

All loads arriving at the Otter Lake Facility are inspected for unacceptable material, the acceptance standards of the municipality, and the disposal requirements of Nova Scotia Environment.

The following materials are not accepted at the Otter Lake Facility:

  • construction, demolition and renovation debris
  • materials banned under the NS Environment Act
  • recyclables
  • organics
  • dangerous or hazardous goods
  • radioactive materials
  • explosives or flammables
  • liquid wastes or sludge
  • wastes that produce a toxic leachate
  • biomedical or Infectious wastes
  • international wastes
  • asbestos
  • regulated tires 
  • animal carcasses
  • unapproved special wastes

Materials recycling facility

20 Horseshoe Lake Drive, Bayer's Lake Park, Halifax

Hours of operation 

Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Drop-off bins are available during open hours.

Fees

There is a $45 (+HST) per tonne ($4.50 per 100kg) fee for drop-off. Loads weighing under 50 kg are no charge. 

Requests to open an account at the recycling facility can be made by calling 311.

Compost facilities

Only commercial haulers on account may deliver material to the compost facilities. Requests to open an account at the compost facilities can be made by calling 311.

Miller Composting
80 Gloria McClusky Avenue, Burnside
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Ragged Lake Compost Facility
61 Evergreen Place, Ragged Lake
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Fees

There is a $100 (+HST) per tonne ($10.00 per 100kg) fee for drop-off.  

Education, workshops, and resources

Halifax Solid Waste staff can help set up sorting programs at your business by providing signs, hosting workshops, or conducting waste assessments. Send an email to wasteless@halifax.ca for more information.

Sorting Guides

The following Business guides are in [PDF] format.

Business waste sorting guide – English
Business waste sorting guide – French
Business waste sorting guide – Arabic
Business waste sorting guide - Mandarin

Download the Halifax Recycles App

The Halifax Recycles web widget and mobile app can be used to search what goes where.