Town Departments

Who can I talk to about my Solid Waste problem?

Brenda Rioux - Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Officer: 902-667-5141

Where is information about landfill tipping fees, hours of operation, and the septage facility?

Please contact the Cumberland Central Landfill directly: 902-597-2799

Bulky Item Collection

Town of Amherst residents can place one bulky item out for collection on every collection day. Bulky items include furniture, mattresses and box springs, coffee tables, washers, dryers, stoves, fridges, etc. This does not include construction and demolition debris.

Construction and Demolition Materials (C&D)

Town of Amherst residents can include one bag of construction and demolition debris (wood, shingles, flooring, etc.) with their regular garbage, provided they do not exceed the 6-bag limit. For larger amounts of C&D, residents can take their materials to the Cumberland Central Landfill in Little Forks. For information about tipping fees call 902-597-2799.

Weekly Organics Collection

Town of Amherst residents will have weekly organics collection every year starting in July and continuing until September. Materials must be placed out for collection on your regular scheduled collection day.

Christmas Tree Collection

Christmas trees will be collected once a year in January. Town of Amherst residents can also take their tree to the Town Garage located on 14 McCully Street (Monday - Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm).

Dual-Stream Recycling

The Town of Amherst adopted a dual-stream approach to recycling in 2018. This means residents will use two separate plastic bags for recyclables: one for paper products, and another for recyclable containers. 

What is composting?

Composting is Nature's way of recycling. Composting is a natural biological process, carried out under controlled conditions, which converts organic material into a stable humus-like product called compost. Green for Life (GFL) operates a composting facility at Little Forks where organics from Amherst are composted.

What are the benefits of a successful composting program?

In addition to diverting a large proportion of the waste stream away from landfill disposal, an effective composting program can produce a high-quality soil amendment with a variety of end uses. Diverting organic waste from landfill sites helps to conserve landfill space and to reduce the production of leachate and methane gas (both of which add to the cost of operating a landfill).

What can be composted?

Composting has the potential to manage all of the organic material in the waste stream which cannot otherwise be recycled. Some examples of organic materials that can be composted include food scraps, leaves and yard wastes, agricultural crop residues, soiled paper products, etc.

Where do Tim Horton's cups go?

Tim's and other take away coffee cups can now be placed in your plastic bag for recyclable containers.

Where should I store my Green Cart?

Your green cart should be stored outside in a ventilated, shady and convenient area to facilitate movement to the curbside for pickup.

How can I clean my Green Cart?

When required, you can hose the cart using a mild detergent immediately after collection; make sure the air vents are kept clear.

When I put lobster shells, fish or other food waste in my compost collection cart how do I manage the odor?

Wetness contributes to odours in the cart. By wrapping wet food waste and adding soiled / non-recyclable paper and boxboard (e.g., paper towel, cereal boxes), and/or leaf and yard waste, you can reduce wetness and odour in your cart.

The best way to avoid flies in your cart is to wrap your wet food waste before placing it in the cart, especially your fruit and meat waste. Meat waste can also be stored in a paper bag in your freezer before collection day.

Can a plastic bag be used to line my kitchen mini bin?

Plastic bags can be used to line the kitchen mini bin but do not place plastic bags in the organic cart.

Where should I store my kitchen mini bin?

Your kitchen mini bin should be kept in a convenient location in the kitchen.

What is leaf and yard waste?

"Leaf and yard waste" means vegetative matter resulting from gardening, horticulture or landscaping, including materials such as tree and shrub trimmings, plant remains, grass clippings, leaves and trees.

What is residual garbage?

"Residual garbage" means household waste other than: recyclable material, compostables and construction or demolition debris.

What color plastic bags can I use for recyclables and residuals?

Recyclables must be placed in clear non-colored or transparent blue plastic bags. The residual waste (after recyclables or compostables are removed) must be placed in clear non-colored plastic bags.

What is a compost bin?

"Compost bin" means a wheeled aerated cart designed to be emptied by hydraulic lifting devices for the storage and municipal collection of compostables.

Do I have to have a bin?

Yes, each residential property with three or fewer dwelling units will be supplied with a green bin for compostables. Your bin will have a serial number registered to your address.

Who pays for the bin?

The Town of Amherst will purchase the bins with the cost being recovered through the solid waste uniform charge.

What can I put in my green bin?

"Compostables" means food scraps and spoiled or wasted food or foodstuff including vegetable peelings, meat, fish, eggs, bones, waste food products, soiled and wet paper and soiled paper products such as table napkins, paper towels, pizza boxes, leaves and yard waste and cold wood ashes (leave in metal pale for one week to ensure cold).

What do I do with all my leaves?

You can put loose leaves in your compost bin. If you have additional leaves they can be placed in compostable or paper bags (maximum 10 per pickup) for collection with your compost bin. There is also a special collection during a two-week period each spring and fall.

What do I do with my Christmas tree, brush or branches from trees in my yard?

The Town will provide door-to-door pickup of Christmas trees during a one-week period as noted on the collection schedule. A special collection of leaves, brush and branches will also take place during a two-week period each spring and fall. Brush and tree branches shall be bundled in bundles not exceeding 1.5 m in length or 25 kg in weight and individual limbs shall have a diameter not exceeding 5 cm in diameter when placed for regular collection.

Won't the green carts be too heavy for seniors?

These carts are designed with 8" plastic wheels such that they can be tipped and moved with little effort.

How often will my solid waste be collected?

Recyclables, organics/compostables and residual waste are collected on the same day, once every two weeks.  Each stream of waste will therefore be collected on a bi-weekly basis.

Is my garbage checked to ensure it has been properly separated?

The collector is responsible for checking all three streams - recyclables, compostables and residuals - to ensure they are not contaminated with waste from another stream. Bags or bins that are contaminated, i.e. have the presence of materials that belong in other containers, will be rejected by placing a rejection sticker on them and leaving the material uncollected.

Where do I place my solid waste for pickup?

All solid waste shall be placed for collection within three meters of the curb, placed in such a manner as to interfere as little as possible with pedestrian traffic and snow removal.

How do I pay for the solid waste collection service?

Cost of acquiring green carts together with collection fees and tipping fees for residential solid waste, which is subject to general municipal collection, will be paid by the Town of Amherst and recovered from the properties subject to municipal residential property tax as a separate user charge for waste collection and disposal on the municipal tax bill issued to the owner.

I live in a Mobile Home Park, does the Town Pickup apply to my home?

Yes, the Town pickup will include all homes in the mobile home parks.

My neighbour keeps piles of garbage behind his shed. It attracts rats and in summer causes a bad odor. Is this permitted under the bylaw?

No, the bylaw requires solid waste to be removed every 2 weeks.

My neighbour's dog tears my garbage bag open and scatters it around. What can be done to stop this?

Your neighbour can be charged if you witness the damage being done and are prepared to cooperate with our bylaw enforcement officer.

Is there a penalty for a resident who violates the solid waste bylaw?

Any person who contravenes any provision of this bylaw is punishable on summary conviction by a fine of not less than $200 and not more than $5000 and to imprisonment of not more than 60 days in default of payment thereof. Each day that a person commits an offence under this bylaw constitutes a separate offence.

Will safety features be regulated for garbage trucks?

Every vehicle used to collect solid waste shall meet standards/specifications as set out in the collection contract.

Are empty paint cans garbage?

No, paint cans can be taken back to an Enviro-Depot.

Is wrapping paper recyclable?

Wrapping paper is now recyclable! Place it in your plastic bag for recyclable paper.

Where can I dispose of my old washer?

Materials such as washers, dryers, dishwashers, and fridges are considered white goods and can be disposed of at the Cumberland Central Landfill, or placed for special spring collection provided the freon is removed and an appropriate sticker is attached.

I live in an apartment building. Does the Town pickup apply to my building?

Town pickup will apply to all residential buildings with three or fewer dwelling units.

To what degree do I have to separate my solid waste?

It must be separated into four streams: compostables, recyclables, residual garbage, construction and demolition debris.

What can I include in the clear bags for recycling?

Find complete information on our Waste Separation Guide page..

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Application Fees

Development Permit Only = $50.00
Demolition Permit = $20.00

Building / Development Permit:

• Commercial Rate = $0.17 per sq. ft + $50 flat rate fee
• Residential Rate = $0.12 per sq. ft + $50 flat rate fee
• Alterations and Repairs = 0.25% of value + $50 flat rate fee
• Accessory Structures and Decks = $0.04 per sq. ft + $50 flat rate fee

Square foot calculations are based on total occupied space. Unfinished basements in single family residential are not included in calculations.

Note: Cheques to be made payable to Town of Amherst. Fee schedule may change without notice.

Items Required

If applicable, include with your application a site plan, and construction drawings. Town staff will contact you should further information be required.

Declaration

Note: For email submissions, Town staff may require you to provide an alternative form of this declaration.

I declare the information and statements contained in this application are true and that the plans and specifications submitted are for the development or construction of the project described. This form may only be signed by the Owner or Owner's Agent (written authorization from Owner is required).

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Mailing Address:

Town of Amherst
PO Box 516
Amherst, NS
B4H 4A1

email: info@amherst.ca

Courier Address:

Town of Amherst
98 East Victoria Street
Amherst, NS
B4H 1X6

Phone: 902-667-3352
Fax: 902-667-5409

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Dangerous or unsightly premises (Policy 66150-01)

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Minimum standards for residential occupancies (Bylaw P4)

Building bylaw (Bylaw D6)

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