Every building in the Halifax region is required to have garbage, recycling, organics (green cart), paper and cardboard bins. Residents must sort waste in their units, and place it in the proper bins.
Effective November 1, 2021 Clear bags will be required for garbage in all condominiums within the Halifax Regional Municipality.
If you are a property manager who needs help setting up a program, please visit the business information page.
Use a blue bag for your recyclables
- all plastic containers
- all plastic bags
- glass and tin containers
- all milk containers
- aluminum foil and plates
Paper goes in a grocery/retail bag or clear bag
- paper
- envelopes
- magazines
- boxboard
- paper egg cartons
- shredded paper
Flatten cardboard before placing it in the bin.
Green carts are for:
- all food waste
- napkins
- kitchen paper towels
You can’t put plastic, including plastic bags labelled “biodegradable” or “compostable,” in the green cart—only use liners made of paper or boxboard.
What if I don't have a mini-bin?
You can buy mini-bins in most stores. Cereal or cracker boxes, ice cream containers, or cat litter pails are free alternatives to buying a bin.
What items cannot go in the garbage or recycling bin?
- household special waste like chemicals, motor oil
- sharps like needles
- electronics
- construction and renovation waste
Halifax Recycles
Search What Goes Where, or sign up for weekly reminders and service alerts, using our web app. Everyone can use the What Goes Where search, not only residents receiving curbside collection.
You can also download the free Halifax Recycles app on your Android or iOS device to have waste info at the palm of your hand!
Sorting Guides
The following Apartment guides are in [PDF] format:
- Apartment Sorting Guide - English
- Apartment Sorting Guide - French
- Apartment Sorting Guide - Arabic
- Apartment Sorting Guide - Farsi
- Apartment Sorting Guide - Simplified Chinese
The following Condo guides are in [PDF] format: