Solid Waste Collection
Never forget your garbage day again! Download the mobile app "Cumberland County Solid Waste" in your App Store, or download the Amherst schedule below.
About Solid Waste Collection in Amherst
The Town of Amherst has a contract with Miller Waste Systems Inc. that includes:
- Three-stream collection of solid waste (garbage, recyclables, and organics)
- A spring and fall collection of leaf & yard waste
- Christmas tree collection in January
- Weekly organics collection in the summer
- Biweekly collection of one bulky item (washer, dryer, couch, chair, etc.).
Removed from the contract are the yearly special collection of bulky items, special collections for construction and demolition debris, and the second collection of Christmas trees in May.
Waste Separation Guide
Visit our Waste Separation Guide page.
Collection Schedule
Visit our Collection Schedule page.
Collection Zones
Visit our Collection Zones page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Access more information about solid waste services on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
For questions related to landfill tipping fees, hours of operations, or the septage facility, please contact the Cumberland Central Landfill directly at 902-597-2799.
For more information on solid waste collection and other programs call 902-667-5141, or download the free "Cumberland County Solid Waste" mobile app by visiting your app store.
Solid Waste Education & Contract Coordinator: Brenda Rioux
Phone: 902-667-5141
Email:
Bid on a tender
Apply for a Building Permit
The Town of Amherst Building Inspector has the authority to inspect houses and commercial buildings to ensure compliance with the plans, standards and regulations, and check workmanship. People want to live and work in safe places, so the Building Inspector ensures that construction meets codified requirements.
Online Forms
To fill out an online Building & Property Services Complaint Form, for complaints under the Dangerous & Unsightly Premises Policy, Solid Waste Bylaw, Land-Use Bylaw, Building Bylaw or Minimal Standards for Residential Occupancies, please go to Building & Property Services Complaint Form.
To fill out an online application for a Building, Development or Demolition Permit, please go to Permit Application Form.
Printable Forms
If you chose not to use the online forms and wish to download them to be printed, filled out and returned later in-person, via normal mail or email, please click on the links below.
- pdf Building and property services complaint form(1.22 MB)
- pdf Building Development Permit Guide(2.10 MB)
- pdf Building Permit Application(621 KB)
- pdf Demolition Permit Application(21 KB)
Building a Deck
Use our pdf Building a Deck in Amherst(5.05 MB) pamphlet to record all of your project's important information.
Submit this to Town Hall in person at 98 Victoria Street East - be sure to include your building permit application. You can also submit the information about your deck project via mail or email along with your permit application.
NOTE: Designs provided here are for illustration and information purposes only. Each circumstance is unique, which may result in other designs being more applicable. The Town of Amherst is not liable for damages resulting from the design.
To request a building inspection, please contact:
Marc Buske, Building Official
Phone: 902-694-2318
Fax: 902-667-5409
Email:
Water & Sewer
Water
Quarterly Billing Schedule
January - Bills are mailed by the last day of the month, due the last business day of February
April - Bills are mailed by the last day of the month, due the last business day of June
July - Bills are mailed by the last day of the month, due the last business day of August
October - Bills are mailed by the last day of the month, due the last business day of November
Current water rates and regulations as presented by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.
Water Rates
- Metered – Consumption Rate = $0.894 per cubic metre (billed quarterly)
- Un-metered = $95.81 quarterly
- Sprinkler System 6” =$250.00 per Annum
- Sprinkler System 8” =$300.00 per Annum
- Private Hydrants =$250.00 per Annum
If you require water services to an undeveloped lot in Amherst please call 902-667-3352.
Documents
- pdf North Tyndal Wellfield(1.07 MB)
- pdf Wellfield Protection Strategy(36 KB)
- pdf Production Transmission Distribution(675 KB)
- pdf Disinfection(27 KB)
- pdf Amherst Water Utility Meets Federal-Provincial Requirements(68 KB)
Sewer
Owners of non-residential properties or businesses are encouraged to review the bylaw as strict limits are included for concentrations of certain substances which are deemed to be detrimental to the efficient operation of a sewage collection system and sewage treatment plant.
Sewer Rates
Based on Water Consumption
- Residential =$0.99 cubic metre – billed quarterly
- Commercial =$0.49 cubic metre – billed quarterly
- Sewer Flat Un-metered (Mini Homes) =$52.51 per quarter
If you require wastewater services to an undeveloped lot in Amherst please call 902-667-3352.
Documents
Engineering
Engineering Services facilitates the Town's Capital Program including the preparation of tender documents and supervision of tenders awarded by Council. Engineering is also responsible for the maintenance and upgrading of major structures owned by the Town and for the maintenance of Town-owned infrastructure information, and all related legal documents and agreements, including private parking lots.
Operations Director: Aaron Bourgeois
Phone: 902-667-3352
Email:
Engineering Technolgist: Jay Crossman
Phone: 902-694-0081
Email:
Public Works
Public Works operates from the Town Garage on McCully Street in Amherst. The Public Works staff consists of a director, operations manager, transportation foreman, engineering service manager, clerk, and 24 full-time and seasonal employees who are responsible for the planning, operations and maintenance of the town streets, sidewalks, snow and ice removal, traffic control lights located in the town, sewers, storm drainage, equipment and the water utility.
For after-hours Public Works emergencies call our dispatch center at 902-667-7227.
Maintaining and Repairing Town of Amherst Roads
Potholes, alligator cracking, delamination, seam separation and frost heaves are all caused by the annual thaw-freeze cycle.
Pothole
Potholes are repaired using hot recycled asphalt
Alligator Cracking
These cannot be repaired until the thaw-freeze cycle ends
Delamination
These cannot be repaired until the thaw-freeze cycle ends
Seam Separation
These cannot be repaired until the thaw-freeze cycle ends
Frost Heave
These cannot be repaired until the thaw-freeze cycle ends
Report potholes and other road defects at 902-667-3352.
Potholes
Potholes are created each year through the regular thaw-freeze cycle, which is the reason they seem to proliferate during springtime.
The temperature rises, snow melts, and water seeps through tiny cracks in the pavement into the street’s subbase. When the temperature drops, the water refreezes, becoming ice that expands, which in turn forces the pavement above it and the ground below it to flex. As traffic drives over the flexing street, the pavement weakens.
Eventually, it weakens to the point where the asphalt pops out and exposes the street’s subbase.
Repairs
Town of Amherst Operations Department crews work to repair potholes during the winter and spring. Repairs are triggered by the Town becoming aware of the potholes. This is done through staff monitoring of streets and citizens reporting potholes.
Citizens are encouraged to report potholes. Doing so creates a work order, which triggers an inspection of the pothole. Based on a number of factors – available resources, damage that could occur, size, location, and traffic volume on the street – the pothole is prioritized and addressed.
The greater the hazard, the higher the priority to fix, however, not all potholes need to be, or can be, repaired right away. Some are addressed in other ways, such as with a pylon or barricade.
What Can You Do?
- Slow down
- Avoid driving in puddles where possible
- Report potholes
Reporting Potholes
You can report a pothole by calling customer service at 902-667-3352 or
Director: Aaron Bourgeois
Phone: 902-667-3352
Fax: 902-667-5409
Email:
Public Works Manager: Jason McBurnie
Phone: 902-694-5279
Email:
Public Works Manager: Paul Hawkes
Phone: 902-694-0380
Email:
Operations
Operations Director: Aaron Bourgeois
Phone: 902-667-3352
Email:
Engineering
Engineering Technologist: Jay Crossman
Phone: 902-694-0081
Email:
Parks and Recreation
Manager, Parks Operations: Matt Selig
Phone: 902-694-2276
Email:
Manager, Facilities & Sports Tourism Development: Corey Crocker
Phone: 902-694-0001
Email:
Public Works
Public Works Manager: Jason McBurnie
Phone: 902-694-5279
Email:
Public Works Manager: Paul Hawkes
Phone: 902-694-0380
Email:
Solid Waste
Solid Waste Education & Contract Coordinator: Brenda Rioux
Phone: 902-667-5141
Email:
