Bylaw Enforcement

Valley Waste–Resource Management understands that it is often difficult or impossible for a business to control the actions of the public who visit their place of business. Changing the habits of both staff and the public is a major challenge.

Education and Cooperation between the public, the business operator, the staff of the business, the waste hauler and Valley Waste–Resource Management are the keys to the success of our source separation program. Businesses or institutions needing assistance may contact Valley Waste–Resource Management.

The following guidelines apply to "public waste"; i.e. waste generated in locations accessible to the general public and not directly controllable by staff.

Guidelines for Public Waste:

1. In any staff controlled area all solid waste must be source separated.
2. Where solid waste are not under staff control, the business must provide sorting options to the public: compostable, recyclable and garbage containers must be conveniently available for the public to use.
3. Signage must be used that indicates what materials go in each container.
4. Public washroom waste is considered garbage. There is no requirement to sort public washroom waste.

Note: All solid waste delivered to the Waste-Resource Management Centres is subject to inspection and compliance measures.

Why is it Important to Control the Movement of Waste?

Important information for Businesses and Haulers

Section 3.5 of the Valley Region Solid Waste–Resource Management Bylaw states that:

"No person shall export or remove residual waste or unsorted solid waste generated within the Municipality outside the boundaries of the Valley Region."

According to the Bylaw then, all residual waste* generated in the Valley Region must be delivered to the Waste–Resource Management Centres at Kentville or Lawrencetown. Transporting waste outside the Region for disposal contravenes the Bylaw**.

*Residual waste means any solid waste remaining after diversion of recyclables, organics and hazardous waste.

Impact to Hauler

• The Flow Control clause ensures that all haulers pay the same price to dispose of waste so they are all competing on an equal basis.
• Valley Waste enforces the Flow Control clause to ensure that haulers remain on an equal footing and are treated fairly.

Tips:

1. Many businesses have found it useful to have a written plan which staff can refer to.
2. The more waste your staff can control the better. For example: public waste receptacles can be removed from the public areas of a restaurant and staff can clear tables and trays to ensure that materials are placed in the correct containers.
3. Check–in time is an excellent opportunity to give guests instructions on recycling and composting opportunities provided by a hotel/motel/campground along with the usual check–in procedure.
4. Campers can be provided with a re–useable organics collection container (such as a small bucket) which the camper can use to transport organics to a central collection point.
5. Your hauler plays a crucial role in the success of your source–separation program. Be sure to speak with your hauler in the set up stage and on an ongoing basis for feedback on how well you and your staff are doing.
6. Responsible, effective solid waste management programs can be a valuable marketing asset for your business, particularly for tourism businesses.
7. Environmentally conscious visitors will return and will tell their friends.

Financial Impacts to Tax Payers

• The Valley Waste system has been established to help all residents and businesses in the Valley Region comply with Provincial waste reduction regulations.
• Revenue from waste disposal fees contributes to the costs of the Valley’s recycling, composting and waste disposal systems and helps to keep municipal property taxes down.
• If waste is transported outside the Region, disposal fee revenue lost to other jurisdictions undermines the viability of our waste diversion programs in the Valley and will have to be made up in increased property taxes.

Lost Opportunities to Divert Recyclables & Organics

• When garbage leaves the Valley we lose the opportunity to remove recyclable and compostable materials from it when it enters our Management Centres in Kentville and Lawrencetown.
• We also lose the opportunity to provide feedback to businesses to help them do a better job of reducing the waste they send to the landfill.