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- Electronics
- Paint
- Used Tires
- Used Oil Return
- Milk Packaging
- Newspapers
- Yellow Pages Directories
- Medical Needles, Syringes or Lancets
- Expired Medication
Electronics
In 2008 televisions, desktop, laptop and notebook computers, computer components and computer printers were added to the list of materials banned from landfills and incinerators in Nova Scotia within the Solid Waste Resource Management Regulations. In 2009 the list was further expanded to include computer scanners, audio video playback and recording systems, telephones and fax machines, cell phones and other wireless devices.
As such brand owners who sell, offer for sale or otherwise distribute these electronic product in or into the Province are responsible for operating or designating a third party to operate an electronic product stewardship program. All approved electronic product stewardship programs must establish a process for collection, transportation, reuse and recycling of electronic products and, if no further options exist, disposal of any residual electronic product components. Programs must also incorporate the principles of a pollution prevention hierarchy by replacing disposal with reuse and recycling of electronic products.
All electronic product stewardship programs must be authorized by the Minister of NS Environment. Nova Scotia currently has 2 approved electronic stewardship programs.
- Cellular phones - Recycle My Cell
- TV’s, Computers Monitors and Peripherals, Printers, Scanners, Audio Video Playback and Recording Systems, Telephone and fax machines - EPRA Nova Scotia
Paint
Within the Solid Waste Resource Management Regulations, brand owners who sell, offer for sale or otherwise distribute a consumer paint product in Nova Scotia must operate a consumer paint product stewardship program or enter into an industry stewardship agreement with the Resource Recovery Fund Board (RRFB) for the Board to operate a consumer paint product stewardship program on the brand owner’s behalf.
All consumer paint product stewardship programs must be authorized by the Minister of NS Environment.
Used Tires
Tires sold within the Province are diverted from disposal through a program operated by the RRFB. As per the NS Solid Waste Resource Management Regulations, no tire retailer can supply a new tire in the province unless the retailer has entered into an industry stewardship agreement with Divert Nova Scotia.
An environmental fee is applied to on-road passenger tires at the point of purchase. Visit the Divert website for a list of environmental fees.
Used Oil Return
As of April 1, 1996, every seller of crankcase oil must either provide a used oil return facility or have a contract with a person who operates a used oil return facility located with a 5 km radius of the location the oil is sold. For more information please consult your local retailer or the Used Oil Regulations.
Milk Packaging
In Nova Scotia, milk producers voluntarily take responsibility for the end of life management of the fluid milk packaging they produce in the province. Through a stewardship agreement
(PDF:16k) between NS Environment, The Atlantic Dairy Council and the 7 solid waste management regions (as established under the solid waste resource management regulations), the costs of recycling milk packaging are borne by the producers rather than by taxpayers.
This program seeks to:
- integrate recycling considerations into the manufacturing and packaging process,
- provide technical research into reprocessing waste materials
- provide funding assistance for municipal solid waste management as it relates to milk packaging recycling
- integrate secondary resources into the manufacturing and/or packaging process
- provide industry leverage to enable the recycling message to reach the entire audience of potential recycling participants
- maintain an ongoing information scan and research process to ensure that all pertinent information with respect to reduction, reuse, and recycling is maintained
- Ongoing public relations to ensure that the recycling process will succeed in the long term
Newspapers
Nova Scotia Environment and the publishers of daily and community newspapers are committed to the reduction of waste, increased recovery of newsprint and the importance of public education to support municipal recycling and waste reduction. The Province has an industry stewardship agreement with producers and marketers of newspapers distributed in Nova Scotia.
This agreement is designed to address the defined objectives by building on the strength of the newspaper industry in communications and social marketing.
Yellow Pages Directories
Under a voluntary stewardship agreement NS Environment, the Resource Recovery Fund Board, the seven waste management regions and Yellow Pages Group work collaboratively to advance public education in support of recycling programs operated by the waste management regions across NS.
Medical Needles, Syringes or Lancets
The Safe Sharps Bring Back Program offers those who use needles, syringes or lancets at home a safe method to dispose of used sharps. The program is administered by the Pharmacy Association of NS.