Sort and $ave: turn trash into gold

On visiting a C&D processing facility for the first time, it can be surprising to see the amount of hand sorting involved with nearly everything arriving there. While this work makes for job creation opportunities, having loads arrive pre-sorted from job sites translates into big savings for taxpayers, contractors and processing site operators. In contrast, mixed loads reduce the quality of materials and their ability to be recycled. Recycling opportunities are dramatically increased with sorted loads.

At many C&D facilities the charge for accepting unsorted loads is increasing. For instance in 2010, the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre was charging $75 per tonne for sorted C&D waste while mixed loads were charged more than double at $175 a tonne.

Asphalt shingles and rubble can be heavy in comparison to other C&D materials so it pays to keep these separate and reduce processing fees. Some C&D processing sites offer a discount on sorted aggregates because of their weight. Many aggregates can also be used as clean fill on site.

Sorting C&D material is done most easily at the job site where it is produced. Systems which work best are simple, easily accessible, labeled, and regularly disposed of.

Banned Items

The following items are banned from Nova Scotia landfills and C&D processing sites:

• Redeemed beverage containers
• Corrugated cardboard
• Newsprint
• Steel/tin and glass food containers
• Used tires, rims removed
• Lead acid (automotive) batteries
• Compostable, organic material and leaf and yard waste
• Waste paint
• LDPE and HDPE bags and packaging
• Televisions
• All computers, computer components and printers
• Audio and video playback and recording systems, telephones and fax machines, cell phones and other wireless devices
   

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