Master Composter Recycler (MCR) is a free five-week online education program offered yearly. This is an online course with five education sessions including in-person facility tours. Participants become more knowledgeable about how waste is managed in the Halifax Region from collection to processing, and learn how to reduce waste through backyard composting and other at-home solutions.
The MCR program is open to all Halifax Regional Municipality residents interested in becoming waste champions within their families, communities, and work places. MCR has been offered in Halifax since May 2019, and has been a popular and long-standing program in other municipalities in Canada and the United States.
MCR will be offered in July 2025 and October 2025. If you are interested in this course waitlist registration is open year round. Please fill out the form here to apply.
Summer Dates: Wednesday July 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
Time: 7pm-9pm (virtual)
Fall Dates: Thursday October 2nd, 9th, 17th, 24th, 31st
Time: 10am-12pm (virtual)
Facility tours are scheduled as virtual tours during class time. An optional weekend field trip will be offered for any course registrants who wish to see the waste facilities in person.
Class Details:
- Class 1
The introductory session provides a course overview, addressing the importance of proper waste management and waste reduction. The session also includes an interactive "What Goes Where" presentation about proper waste sorting at home and at work, addressing questions of compostable vs biodegradable, and recyclable plastic items vs garbage.
- Class 2
Topics of waste diversion and waste reduction will be discussed in greater detail during the second session. Information will be provided about product stewardship programs in Nova Scotia and beyond the blue-bag recycling options in HRM. We will share tips and strategies for reducing plastic and food waste.
- Class 3
This class is in person (with a virtual option). Participants will tour the waste management facilities and learn about the history of each location.
- The Otter Lake Waste Management Facility (Landfill)
- The Material Recovery Facility Facility in Bayer's Lake (Recycling Facility)
- The Organics Processing Facility in Goodwood (Compost Facility)
- Class 4
This session focuses on how to turn food scraps into a valuable resource! The session will start with in-depth information about the science of composting and how to build and maintain a compost pile at home. The session will also include instructions on how to vermicompost (composting with worms) and participants will have the chance to win a vermicomposter (worms included). We will wrap up with information on how to use finished compost and some additional WasteLess Gardening Tips.
- Class 5
The final session is a review of all course topics and a discussion of the various connections that participants identify. Following the closing discussion, each participant will receive a Master Composter Recycler certificate of completion.