Garbage & recycling across Nova Scotia
When is garbage and recycling collected? Are there bag limits or sorting rules?
43 of 49 municipalities in Nova Scotia have an adopted bylaw on garbage & recycling on file. Each row links the municipality's answer page and, where transcribed, the full text of the document.
| Municipality | Adopted document | Key facts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town |
Town of Amherst Solid Waste By-Law (D-20) | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: 6 bags residual, 3 bags recyclables, 10 bags yard waste, compost bin required · accepted or banned: Banned: hazardous waste, asbestos, tires, dead animals, septic waste. Disposal within Cumberland County. | 2026-06-05 |
| Annapolis County municipality |
S1 Solid Waste Resource Bylaw | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Annapolis Royal Town |
Solid Waste By-Law (Town of Annapolis Royal) | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Antigonish County municipality |
Collection and Disposal of Solid Waste By-Law (Antigonish County) | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Compostables in wheeled cart; recyclables in blue tinted bags; residual in transparent bags; max 25 kg. · accepted or banned: Prohibited: hazardous waste, asbestos, septic waste, tires, dead animals, industrial waste, waste from outside Municipality. | 2026-06-05 |
| Antigonish Town |
Solid Waste Management By-law (Town of Antigonish, No. 115) | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Residual: non-coloured clear bags; Recycling: unmarked transparent blue bags; Organics: 242 litre wheeled cart · accepted or banned: Banned: Schedule B materials (cardboard, organics, electronics); Burning prohibited. | 2026-06-05 |
| Argyle District municipality |
Solid Waste Resource Collection and Disposal By-Law No. 27A | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Max 5 recyclable bags; 25kg max per residual bag; organics carts or approved containers. · accepted or banned: Banned from disposal: beverage containers, newsprint, tires, cardboard, organics. Prohibited from collection: hazardous waste, sharps, asbestos. | 2026-06-05 |
| Barrington District municipality |
Solid Waste Resource Collection and Disposal By-Law No. 08 | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Not more than a combined total of 5 bags... No bag shall exceed a weight of 15 kilograms. One green cart is permitted per household. · accepted or banned: Banned: electronics, tires, batteries, hazardous waste, construction debris, liquids. Accepted: residual waste, recyclables, compostables, one bulky item. | 2026-06-05 |
| Bridgewater Town |
Chapter 203 - Solid Waste By-Law | collection schedule: Recyclables every 2 weeks; organics/residual alternating week; collection weekly · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Max 8 bags (6 residual); Max 2 green carts; Max 1 non-transparent bag; Green cart required for organics | 2026-06-05 |
| Cape Breton Regional municipality |
S-300 Solid Waste Resource Management By-Law
adopted 2003-07-08 |
collection schedule: Recyclables bi-weekly in designated areas; collection commences 8:00 a.m. (daytime areas) or 12 midnight (overnight areas); specific days assigned by Manager per area · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Maximum 5 mixed waste containers per eligible premises; apartments max 5 bags/unit up to 30 total; 1 green cart for organics; no limit on blue bags for recyclables | 2026-06-05 |
| Clare District municipality |
Solid Waste Resource Collection and Disposal By-Law No. 08 | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Max 10 bags residual garbage (25 kg/bag); max 5 bags/containers recyclables (15 kg/bag) per collection day · accepted or banned: Banned from landfill: beverage containers, newsprint, cardboard, waste paint, HDPE/LDPE, compostable organics. Not collected: hazardous waste, sharps, asbestos, septic waste. | 2026-06-05 |
| Colchester County municipality |
Solid Waste By-law – Chapter 33 | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: not more than six (6) bags and/or containers; compostables shall be placed for collection in organics carts · accepted or banned: hazardous waste, sharps, pathological waste, asbestos, septic waste, hot ashes, dead animal carcasses larger than 10 kg, industrial waste | 2026-06-05 |
| Cumberland County municipality |
Solid Waste By-Law 18-02 | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: not more than four (4) bags for residual waste; compost cart required for organics · accepted or banned: Prohibited: hazardous waste, hospital and pharmaceutical waste, asbestos, septic waste, dead animals, tires | 2026-06-05 |
| Digby District municipality |
Solid Waste By Law – By-law #12 | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: residential properties are allowed 10 bags total for recyclable and residual waste and 1 organic collection cart · accepted or banned: Banned from disposal: beverage containers, newsprint, tires, cardboard, organics. Not permitted for collection: hazardous waste, sharps, asbestos, septic waste, hot ashes. | 2026-06-05 |
| Digby Town |
The Solid Waste Resource Management Bylaw #2020-01 | collection schedule: Residual/recyclables: at least once in every fourteen (14) days, 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Organics: fortnightly, weekly June 1st - September 30th. · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Max 10 bags per dwelling unit; residual max 25 kilograms per bag; recyclables max 15 kilograms per bag; organics in carts. | 2026-06-05 |
| East Hants District municipality |
Solid Waste Resource Collection and Disposal Bylaw IO-400 (amended by IO-400-1)
adopted 2019-04-24 |
collection schedule: Biweekly solid waste; recyclables and organics collected on alternating biweekly schedule; collection commences at 7:00 a.m. · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Single-family: maximum 5 regulation containers solid waste, 8 recyclables bags/bundles, 1 organics cart per collection day per unit | 2026-06-05 |
| Guysborough District municipality |
Collection of Solid Waste & Recyclables Bylaw – By-Law #4 (Amended 2022) | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Maximum eight (8) bags, containers or bundles. Total weight not exceeding seventy kilograms (70 kg) (150 lb.). Individual containers max 23 kg. (50 lbs.), 78 liters. · accepted or banned: Hazardous waste, explosives, toxic materials banned. Wrecked motor vehicles, parts not included. Tires >20 inch excluded from bulk. | 2026-06-05 |
| Halifax Regional municipality |
By-law S-600 Respecting Solid Waste Resource Collection and Disposal | — | 2026-06-05 |
| Inverness County municipality |
Bylaw 16 – Garbage Collection
+1 more |
collection schedule: not less than once each week, on a day determined by the Municipality · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: garbage bags no larger than 30" by 37"; not more than four bags, 75 pounds combined | 2026-06-05 |
| Kentville Town |
CH101 Valley Waste Bylaw | collection schedule: every second week · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: 8 bags total (max 4 residual), 1 Green Cart, 2 brush bundles, 2 cardboard bundles | 2026-06-05 |
| Kings County municipality |
By-law 109 Solid Waste-Resource By-law
adopted 2020-11-03 |
collection schedule: Regular roadside Authority Collection occurs every second week. · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Total of eight bags combined (max four Residual Waste), One Green Cart, two bundles of brush, two bundles of corrugated cardboard. | 2026-06-05 |
| Lockeport Town |
Solid Waste Management By-Law | collection schedule: once every two (2) weeks commencing at 7:00 a.m. · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: one (1) opaque plastic bag, no larger than 55.58 cm x 60.96 cm (77L) into (1) clear bag per collection day for residual waste; unlimited blue bag and paper recyclables | 2026-06-05 |
| Lunenburg District municipality |
By-law No. 039 — Solid Waste Collection & Disposal By-law | collection schedule: At least once every fourteen (14) days commencing at 7:00 a.m.; special collections for electronics, wood/metal, and Christmas trees annually · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Maximum 140 kg total per dwelling unit per collection day; maximum 4 cubic metres total volume per dwelling unit per collection day; 2 bulky waste items every 14 days; 1 wheeled aerated cart per dwelling unit | 2026-06-05 |
| Lunenburg Town |
Solid Waste Management By-law No. 963 | collection schedule: Biweekly recyclables (every 2 weeks at 6:00 a.m.); organic materials and residual waste on alternating biweekly week at 6:00 a.m.; results in collection of some stream each week · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Maximum 6 clear bags of residual waste per eligible premises per collection day; maximum 100 kg residual waste total per eligible premises per collection day; 1 non-transparent bag per eligible premises per collection day | 2026-06-05 |
| Mahone Bay Town |
Solid Waste Management By-law (By-law Number 46)
adopted 2022-05-26 |
collection schedule: Recyclables once every two (2) weeks; organic materials, bulky waste and residual waste on the alternating week · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Maximum combination of six (6) bags or bundles... one may be a green cart along with no more than two (2) bulky waste items | 2026-06-05 |
| Mulgrave Town |
By-Law #15 Collection of Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials By-Law | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: A maximum of ten (10) bags, containers or bundles and a total weight not exceeding seventy kilograms (70 kg) or one hundred fifty pounds (150 lb) · accepted or banned: Banned from landfill: electronics, newsprint, tires, paint, cardboard, organics, hazardous waste. Construction debris and vehicles not collected. | 2026-06-05 |
| New Glasgow Town |
Refuse Bylaw | collection schedule: at least once every week · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: No more than five containers shall be collected from any one dwelling | 2026-06-05 |
| Oxford Town |
Solid Waste Bylaw (as amended 2022) — By-Law #02-02 | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Residual garbage and recyclables in bags min 60cm×80cm, max 100cm×150cm, max 25 kg each; compostables in Town-provided white plastic compost pail; corrugated cardboard bundles max 20 kg · accepted or banned: Banned: hazardous waste, hospital/pharmaceutical waste, asbestos, septic waste, hot ashes, dead animals, industrial waste, tires, out-of-Town waste | 2026-06-05 |
| Pictou County municipality |
Solid Waste Resource Management By-Law | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Organics cart for eligible premises; residual cans max 20 kg, bags max 15 kg; recyclable bags max 15 kg · accepted or banned: Burning waste banned except brush, tree limbs, milled wood; Landfill ban on provincially regulated materials | 2026-06-05 |
| Port Hawkesbury Town |
Solid Waste Management Bylaw
adopted 2020-02-04 |
sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Max 6 residual waste bags, 6 recyclable bags per dwelling unit; compostables require Town-approved wheeled cart. · accepted or banned: Landfill banned: beverage containers, newsprint, tires, cardboard, paint, organics, electronics. Burning banned except brush/wood. | 2026-06-05 |
| Queens Regional municipality |
By-law No. 13 - Solid Waste Management
adopted 2025-11-27 |
collection schedule: Once every two (2) weeks commencing at 8:00 a.m. · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Maximum 6 containers (clear bags) for residual waste per collection cycle per eligible premises; aggregate total volume limit of 2 cubic metres for all waste per eligible premises per collection day | 2026-06-05 |
| Richmond County municipality |
By-Law #17 — Solid Waste Management By-Law | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: No more than 3 bags residual waste, 3 bags general recyclables, 3 bags/bundles paper recyclables · accepted or banned: Prohibited for collection: hazardous waste, asbestos, septic waste, tires, compostables, dead animals, industrial waste | 2026-06-05 |
| Shelburne District municipality |
Solid Waste Management By-law S-500 | collection schedule: once every two (2) weeks commencing at 7:00 a.m. · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: residual waste: one (1) opaque privacy bag (max 77L) inside one (1) clear bag per collection day; no limit on blue bag or paper recyclables | 2026-06-05 |
| Shelburne Town |
Solid Waste By-law | collection schedule: once every two (2) weeks commencing at 7:00 a.m. · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: one (1) opaque plastic bag... into (1) clear bag for residual waste; green cart for organic | 2026-06-05 |
| St. Mary's District municipality |
Solid Waste-Resource Management By-law | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Residual waste: clear bags approx 35in x 47in; each may include one privacy bag max 20in x 22in; weight limit 23kg per container. Recyclables: unmarked transparent blue bags approx 25in x 35in; weight limit 23kg · accepted or banned: Banned from disposal: beverage containers, corrugated cardboard, newsprint, used tires, lead-acid batteries, leaf/yard waste, waste paint, compostable organics, steel/tin food containers, glass food containers, LDPE/HDPE plastic bags (per Schedule B) | 2026-06-05 |
| Stellarton Town |
Solid Waste Management | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Organics: required cart max 100 kg. Recyclables: clear blue bags max 15 kg. Residuals: cans max 20 kg or bags max 15 kg. · accepted or banned: Landfill/incinerator disposal banned for provincially regulated materials. Burning prohibited except brush/wood. Exporting unsorted waste prohibited. | 2026-06-05 |
| Stewiacke Town |
Solid Waste Bylaw | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: not more than six (6) bags per collection day; 25 kilograms per bag; organics carts · accepted or banned: Prohibited: hazardous waste, sharps, pathological waste, asbestos, septic waste, hot ashes, carcasses larger than 10 kg, industrial waste, outside waste. | 2026-06-05 |
| Trenton Town |
By-law No. 37 — Refuse Collection | collection schedule: not less often than once a week, on a day determined by him · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: no more than two containers shall be collected from any one dwelling; exceed in weight seventy five pounds including container | 2026-06-05 |
| Truro Town |
Solid Waste By-law (Amended Version Winter 2020) | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Not more than six (6) bags and/or containers containing bags of residual garbage · accepted or banned: Prohibited: Hazardous waste, sharps, pathological waste, asbestos, septic waste, hot ashes, dead animals >10kg, industrial waste. | 2026-06-05 |
| Victoria County municipality |
Solid Waste Management By-Law (2021 amendment) | sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Residual: max 4 bags per dwelling per collection day; Recyclables: max 4 bags per collection day; Compostable organics: max 4 bags per collection day; Corrugated cardboard: max 2 bundles per collection day · accepted or banned: Prohibited: hazardous waste, sharps, pathological waste, hospital/pharmaceutical waste, asbestos, septic waste, hot ashes, dead animal carcasses, industrial waste, solid waste generated outside municipality, C&D debris exceeding bulky item limits | 2026-06-05 |
| West Hants Regional municipality |
Solid Waste Management By-law RS-001 | collection schedule: bi-weekly; collection commences at 7:00 am · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Residual: max 5 bags per unit per collection day; Recyclables: max 10 regulation bags per collection day; 1 organics cart; 1 bulky item (max 75kg) per collection day; 1 brush bundle (max 25kg, max 4ft); 1 cardboard bundle (max 22kg, max 1ft x 2ft x 3ft); max 6 paper bags leaf/yard waste | 2026-06-05 |
| Wolfville Town |
Bylaw 106 Solid Waste Resource Management
adopted 2022-07-07 |
collection schedule: every second week · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: 8 bags combined (max 4 Residual), 1 Green Cart, 2 bundles brush, 2 bundles cardboard | 2026-06-05 |
| Yarmouth District municipality |
Solid Waste Resource Collection and Disposal By-law S-088-24
adopted 2024-03-27 |
sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Residual: max 5 bags per collection day (max 15kg each); Recyclables: max 5 bags/containers per collection day (max 15kg each); corrugated cardboard bundles max 20kg, max 60cm x 60cm; compostable organics in organics cart (max 100kg load); brush bundles max 15kg, max 1.2m, max 5cm diameter · accepted or banned: Banned from disposal: redeemable beverage containers, newsprint, used tires, corrugated cardboard, waste paint, steel/tin food containers, HDPE #2, LDPE #4, compostable organics, household hazardous waste; also sharps, pathological waste, asbestos, septic waste, hot ashes, dead animal carcasses >10kg, industrial waste | 2026-06-05 |
| Yarmouth Town |
Solid Waste Resource Collection and Disposal Bylaw (TOY 21) | collection schedule: Garbage/organics every 14 days; recyclables every 7 days; metals/appliances last Friday monthly; waste wood first Friday monthly (Apr-Nov). · sorting required: True · container or bag limit: Garbage max 25kg/bag; recyclables max 15kg/bag; organics in green cart max 100kg; leaves max 20 bags; branches max 5 bundles. | 2026-06-05 |
Nothing on file for garbage & recycling
Absence here is explicit, not a gap: each municipality below was checked, and its status says why there is no document.
Other bylaws on file, none on this topic (6) — Berwick, Chester, Clark's Harbour, Middleton, Pictou, Westville.