Nova Scotia Sharing Knowledge About Solid Waste Management

Delegates from across the country and around the world continue to visit Nova Scotia to learn about the province's innovative solid waste management system.

From July 28 to Aug. 1, delegates from Japan and Newfoundland will tour Nova Scotia's state-of-the-art landfills systems, and meet with municipal partners to gain insight into what makes Nova Scotia's solid waste management system a success.

"Our best environmental success story is in solid waste management because it employs thousands of people, contributes to economic growth, and reduces our environmental footprint," said Mark Parent, Minister of Environment.

"This is the message I am sharing this summer when I visit communities to discuss the benefits of the green economy and how it can help solve our environmental issues and re-energize our economy."

Both delegations will view organic and recycling collection trucks, visit a composting site, and tour a waste stabilization facility, landfill, and transfer station.

Nova Scotians send 45 per cent less waste to landfills then people in other provinces across the country. By 2015, Nova Scotians will send even less waste to landfills.

As part of our Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act, government committed to further reducing the province's disposal rate to 300 kilograms per person per year. The current disposal rate is 430 kilograms, about 50 per cent lower than the Canadian average.

To achieve the goal, the province is working with municipal partners and the Resource Recovery Fund Board on four priority areas: stewardship, research and development, best practices for managing construction and demolition, and education and awareness.

More information on Nova Scotia's solid waste management is available on the Department of Environment's webiste at: www.gov.ns.ca/nse .