Litter

Litter: Be Responsible for Your Waste

Litter impacts our environment, public spaces, and community well-being. In HRM, preventing litter is a shared responsibility. It is regulated under HRM's By-Law S-600. 

All residents, businesses, and property owners are required to properly manage waste and prevent litter from entering the environment. Failure to comply may result in enforcement action and fines.

What are you required to do?

  • Place waste responsibly in the right bin - garbage, recycling, or organics bin.
  • Do not leave waste in public spaces or on a private property. If there isn’t a bin close by, take it with you.
  • Secure waste during storage and transportation.
  • Clean up all the litter you are responsible for.
  • Report litter or overflowing bins to 311.

Take an active role in reducing litter by hosting a community clean-up.

To learn about prevention and reporting of illegal dumping, visit halifax.ca/illegal-dumping.

Litter By-Law  Litter Prevention  

Municipal Litter Bins  Reporting Litter

By-Law

The following requirements are outlined under our Bylaw S-600 and apply to all residents, businesses, and property owners. These provisions are in place to prevent litter, protect public spaces, and ensure waste is responsibly managed across the municipality.

Violations of By-law S-600 may result in fines ranging from $200 to $10,000.

General Requirements 

  • No person shall release or cause litter to be released into the environment.
  • Waste must be properly contained and disposed of in appropriate receptacles.
  • Any person responsible for litter must ensure it is cleaned up promptly.

Businesses, Property Owners, and Commercial Operations

  • Must not allow litter to escape from their property.
  • Must clean up any litter generated from their operations immediately.
  • Must keep their property, and the area within 15 m of the property boundary
    free of litter.
  • Required to have a waste management plan, including a litter management section.
  • Containers must be sturdy and capable of containing waste equipped with tight-fitting lids.
  • Containers must remain closed when not in use and waste must not overflow or escape from containers.

Construction sector

  • Must prevent materials and debris from leaving the site.
  • Must ensure waste is contained and does not create litter.
  • Must clean up any litter generated from their operations immediately.

Event Organizers

  • Must provide garbage, recycling, and organics receptacles where applicable.
  • Must maintain accessible waste bins during the event.
  • Must clean the event site and the surrounding 15 m within 24 hours after the event.

Restaurants and Drive-Thrus

  • Must provide accessible waste receptacles for customers.
  • Drive-thru lanes must include litter receptacles.
  • Receptacles must be maintained, regularly emptied, and kept in good condition.

 

Be Responsible for Your Waste
image of untarped load

When transporting waste for disposal, material must be covered and secured to prevent litter.

image of a tarped load

A secure load does not slide or shift in vehicle or trailer and materials cannot fall or blow out.

Vehicles carrying waste

  • Waste must be transported in a manner that prevents spillage or scattering.
  • Loads must be covered (tarped) or secured within a closed vehicle.
  • Vehicles must have appropriate restraints (e.g., tailgates or securing devices)

 

Preventing Litter

Be Responsible for Your Waste.  Small actions can prevent litter:

  • Tarp and secure loads when transporting waste or when moving items in an open vehicle.
  • Don’t throw coffee cups or other loose waste in an open truck bed.
  • Report overflowing public litter bins to 311.
  • Secure garbage in bags, in a can at the curb. Remember, no loose material should be left in receptacles.
  • Keep a litter bag in your car.
  • Host a community clean-up (because litter attracts litter).
  • Set an example by not littering and disposing of waste properly.

Municipal Litter Bins

Litter and recycling bins are provided in areas with high high-use areas such as municipal parks, transit stops, and commercial zones.

Receptacles are installed and serviced (emptied) by municipal staff.

You can:

  • Request for installation of a new bin by calling 311
  • Report overflowing bins through 311. 

Each request is reviewed by staff from the applicable department and bins are installed where the established criteria is met. 

Residents and visitors can also view litter bin locations within the municipality on this interactive map. 

Please note: The map is updated as operations allow. Some bins in parks are removed during the winter months due to challenges in servicing them.

 

Reporting

To report litter on public property (parks and right of way), commercial property, or construction sites:

Penalties range from $200-$10,000 for litter violations

 

Image of litter falling from truck