Accepted Waste & Locations

Drop Off Locations On Site

Explore the content below to find out what waste is accepted on site and where to drop it off.

1. Scalehouse

All vehicles must stop at the scalehouse before and after dropping off waste.

2/3. Public Bins

Customers can unload waste into the public bins.  The bins are labelled according to the type of waste to be placed in each.  Please ask a staff member if you have any questions about which bin to use. 

Organics Bin – All plastic bags must be removed before placing organics in the bin. Organic items include green cart waste, paper towel, untreated wood sawdust and leaves.

Paper Bin – Paper items include newsprint, hard and soft cover books, flyers and magazines, shredded and loose paper, cereal boxes and tissue boxes.

Cardboard Bin – Corrugated cardboard only. 

Landfill Bin – This bin is for items such as bagged garbage, plastic toys, mattresses, box springs, couches and upholstered chairs and clothing. 

Painted & Stained Wood Bin – This bin is for all painted and stained wood, painted or stained chipboard and painted or stained plywood. 

Unpainted & Untreated Wood Bin – This bin is for branches, brush, trees and unpainted and unstained wood.

Treated Wood Bin – This bin is for any pressure treated wood, decks and steps, creosote timbers, railway ties, wharves and power poles. 

Metal Bin – This bin is for items composed of any type of metal.

Drywall Bin – This bin is exclusively for sheets or partial sheets of drywall material.

4. Electronics, Lightbulbs & Batteries

Battery Recycling

Batteries can be dropped off free of charge at South Shore Waste Solutions.

Recycling batteries keeps harmful chemical out of the environment, prevents waste facility fires and ensures they are made into new batteries. 

How to Recycle:

  1. Collect – Store in a glass or plastic container.
  2. Protect – Tape off the terminals (ends) of all lithium, rechargeable and alkaline batteries over 9v and all button/coin batteries.
  3. Deliver – Take batteries to an approved drop off location such as South Shore Waste Solutions or visit RecycleYourBatteries.ca to find a location near you (at least every 3 months to avoid corrosion).

Safety Information:

Damaged, corroded and leaking batteries require special handling. Visit Recycle Your Batteries Canada! For more details on safe handling and disposal. 

Accepted Products:

  • A, AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt batteries
  • Button and coin batteries (used in hearing aids, watches, musical greeting cards)
  • Rechargeable battery packs under 5 kgs, from power tools
  • E-bike and E-scooter batteries

Products Not Accepted:

  • Batteries over 5 kgs (including car and forklift batteries
    • Lead car batteries are accepted at the household hazardous waste depot on site

Electronics Recycling

Electronics can be dropped off free of charge at South Shore Waste Solutions.  

Electronic items are also collected during a special fall pickup in the District of Lunenburg, Town of Bridgewater and Town of Mahone Bay. Three electronic items can be collected per household. Please ensure items are not smashed when they are placed at the curbside. 

For more information and a full list of accepted items visit Recycle My Electronics. 

South Shore Waste Solutions Electronic drop off area

Lightbulb Recycling

Lighting products can be dropped off free of charge at South Shore Waste Solutions. 

Lights are accepted free of charge from residents and businesses, regardless of the brand. The program accepts intact (whole) units and does not accept lamps that have been crushed. 

Visit Product Care Recycling for more details. 

Businesses with high quantities of lights to dispose of can arrange for an on-site pick up through Product Care Recycling. 

Accepted Products:

  • Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) 
  • Fluorescent tubes (all shapes) 
  • High-intensity discharge (HIDs) and special purpose bulbs 
  • Incandescent and halogen bulbs 
  • Miniature bulbs 
  • Light emitting diodes (LEDs) 
  • Ultra High Performance (UHP) (replacement projector lamps) 
  • UV and germicidal bulbs 

Products Not Accepted:

  • Ballasts and light fixtures 
  • Lamps integrated into products that are not intended for easy removal or replacement by end users 
  • String lights and Christmas lights 

5. Household Hazardous Waste

Residents within the District of Lunenburg, Town of Bridgewater and Town of Mahone Bay can drop off residential hazardous waste for safe disposal, free of charge at South Shore Waste Solutions.   

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) is waste that poses a risk to health, safety, or the environment. This includes flammable, combustible, corrosive, and toxic products. 

Health Canada offers the following advice for safe storage of household chemicals:  

  • Store in original containers and according to instructions. 
  • Keep all safety information. 
  • Keep out of sight and out of reach of children and pets. 
  • Store paints, solvents, gasoline, fuels, varnishes and other products that may release harmful fumes or catch fire outside of your home. 
  • If possible, store products in a separate building that is not connected to your home’s ventilation system. 
  • Avoid storing chemical products in areas with fluctuating temperatures. 
  • Regularly check containers for leaks or damage.  

For more information on the use and storage of household chemicals, visit the Government of Canada. 

South Shore Waste Solutions Houshold hazardous waste drop off area

Accepted Items:

  • ABS solvent cement
  • Acetone (nail polish)
  • Acid corrosives
  • Adhesives
  • Aerosol cans
  • Ammonia-based cleaners
  • Antifreeze
  • Autobody fillers
  • Ballasts (PCB free, manufactured after 1980)
  • Batteries
  • Battery acid
  • Breaker fluid
  • Butane
  • Camp fuel/igniters
  • Carpet cleaner and shampoo
  • Caulking compound
  • Chlorine bleach
  • Contact cement
  • Creosote
  • Diesel fuel
  • Drain opener
  • Driveway sealer
  • Enamels
  • Fertilizers
  • Fiberglass resin/epoxy
  • Floor wax
  • Fluorescent light tubes and lightbulbs
  • Foundation coating
  • Furnace or stove cement
  • Gas
  • Gas-line antifreeze
  • Grease
  • Herbicides
  • Insecticides
  • Kerosene
  • Large household batteries
  • Liquid flammables
  • Metal polishes
  • Methyl Hydrate
  • Mortar
  • Motor Oil
  • Propane cylinder tanks
  • Paint stripper
  • Paint thinner
  • Paints
  • Pesticides
  • Photo developers
  • Pipe joint compound
  • Plastic cement
  • Plastic wood
  • Poisons
  • Reactives
  • Roofing tar/cement
  • Sealers
  • Shellac
  • Solid flammables
  • Stains
  • Transmission fluid
  • Turpentine
  • Varsol

Look for Hazardous Labels on Packaging:  

Flammable warning symbol

Flammable or ignitable wastes can create fires under certain conditions, are spontaneously combustible or have a flash point less than 60°C.

Poisonous warning symbol

Poison or toxic wastes are those containing concentrations of certain substances in excess of regulatory thresholds which are expected to cause injury or illness to human health or the environment. 

Explosive warning symbol

Explosive wastes can cause explosions, toxic fumes, gasses or vapors when heated, compressed or mixed with water. 

Curossive warning symbol

Corrosive wastes are acids or bases that are capable of corroding metal containers such as storage tanks, drums and barrels. 

Items Not Accepted:

  • Commercial, industrial and institutional hazardous waste (certified haulers only) 
  • PCBs and radioactive substances (staff will provide customers with information about other disposal options and HHW collection companies) 
  • Unidentified household hazardous waste, all waste must be identified. If you are looking to dispose of unidentified waste, please contact a commercial contractor such as GFL environmental
  • Bio-medical wastes or pharmaceuticals (please drop off expired medications, used sharps and lancets at your local pharmacy) 
  • Explosives (contact your local RCMP before dropping off these materials (902) 634-8674 or (902) 527-5555) 
  • Household hazardous waste outside of the District of Lunenburg, Town of Bridgewater and Town of Mahone Bay 
Stack of hazardous waste barrels

Glycol & Oil Recycling

The following items are banned from landfill and can be dropped off at South Shore Waste Solutions year-round, free of charge: 

  • Oils (petroleum or synthetic derived crankcase oil, engine oil, gear oil, hydraulic fluid, transmission fluid, heat transfer fluid and lubricating fluid for machinery or equipment)  
  • Filters (spin-on style or element style fluid filters for hydraulic, transmission or internal combustion engines, desal fuel filters, storage tank fuel filters, household furnace oil filters other than gasoline filters) 
  • Oil, glycol and diesel exhaust fluid containers (containers with up to a 50 liter capacity for oil, glycol or DEF products) 
  • Aerosol containers (ethylene or propylene glycol for vehicle or commercial engine coolant) 

Antifreeze and oil jugs are accepted in blue bag recycling with caps on. 

Questions? Call 1 (833) 222-8662 or visit the Atlantic Used Oil Management Association website. 

Garages can set up on-site collection by calling (902) 662-2692. 

6. Fridges, Freezers & Air Conditioners

You can drop off fridges, freezers, water coolers air conditioners and dehumidifiers free of charge at South Shore Waste Solutions year-round. Gases from these appliances will be drained free of charge on site. These items cannot be collected at the curb unless professionally drained and displaying a refrigerant-free sticker. 

7. Landfill Transfer Station

This space is for dump trailers only. 

8. Construction & Demolition Waste

This space is for contractors and large loads only. 

In Nova Scotia, Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste must be disposed of properly. Guidelines have been developed and are administered by Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change. 

Structural demolitions generate large amounts of material that can be reused or recycled. Rather than demolishing an entire building, consider ‘deconstructing’ all or part of a building. Deconstruction is the orderly dismantling of building components for reuse or recycling. 

Deconstruction saves money. Sorted construction waste delivered to South Shore Waste Solutions costs less per tonne for disposal than unsorted construction waste. 

South Shore Waste Solutions also offers mixed C&D waste rates for mixed construction waste loads. View a list of wastes accepted in mixed C&D waste loads.  

Accepted Items:

  • Clean Wood – All brush and wood that is free of glue, paint, stain, wire and plastic. Customers are asked to remove spikes and pieces of metal fastened to wood which are longer than 15cm (six inches) or thicker than 1.3 cm (0.5 inches). Metal left in wood can damage equipment when the wood is ground for burned as bio-fuel. 
  • Painted Wood – Includes plywood and painted wood. Creosote-treated wood must be disposed of in landfill, and is billed at a landfill rate. 
  • Shingles – Asphalt shingles must be free of house wrap, metal, wood and wire. 
  • Metal – All metal items including fridges, freezers, dehumidifiers, wire, plumbing fixtures, siding, doors, empty paint cans and window frames. Refrigerant gases are drained free of charge at South Shore Waste and metal is accepted at no cost. 
  • Vinyl flooring 
  • Ceiling tiles 
  • Wallboard/drywall 
  • Window panes 
  • Glass doors 
  • Toilets 
  • Sinks 
  • Bath tubs 
  • Fiberglass 
  • Blown-in and Styrofoam insulation 
  • Vinyl siding 
  • Piping 
  • Carpeting 

Other Material Accepted at South Shore Waste Solutions

Wet Suit Recycling 

The Ark, with support from Divert NS offers a wet suit recycling program, removing wet suits from Nova Scotia landfills where they can take over 100 years to decompose. You can drop off clean unwanted wetsuits, booties, and gloves at South Shore Waste Solutions free of charge year-round. Wet suits will be repaired or repurposed by Ark.  https://www.thearkbridgewater.org/ 

Clothing Donation Bin

Drop off clothing donations at the Diabetes Canada donation bin or IWK bin. Diabetes Canada accepts:

  • Accessories and bags
  • Clothing (all types)
  • Curtains
  • General household textiles (towels, blankets, sheets)
  • Shoes and boots
  • Sleeping bags

IWK Donation bin accepts:

  • Clothing
  • Footwear
  • Purses
  • Belts

Questions? Call 902-543-2991 or visit https://declutterfordiabetes.ca/what-you-can-donate, https://www.lmltrading.com/accepted-items.html

Lobster Traps & Fishing Rope 

South Shore Waste Solutions accepts both metal lobster traps, fishing rope and netting. Lobster traps are accepted free of charge while fishing rope and netting are charged at the landfill rate. Please keep lobster traps and rope separate. 

Other Disposal Programs

Cooking Fat & Grease Disposal 

South Shore Waste Solutions does not accept cooking fat and grease on site. Please contact one of the following: 

RB Rae Waste Management 1 (866) 683-7937 

Darling Ingredients 1 (877) 916-0797 

Biofuel Oils (902) 476-9742 

Medical Disposal Program

The provincial Medical Disposal Program allows individuals to return unneeded medications to their local pharmacy for free and safe disposal. 

Accepted items include ointment pots, tubes, pills and capsules, medical patches, eye drops, empty inhalers, nasal sprays, oral liquids, liquid medications, full or partially full bottles or vials, full or partially full blister packs. 

Do not put medications in the garbage, blue bag or flush it down the toilet. Doing so can be dangerous for children, pets and the environment. 

Syringe, Needle & Lancet Disposal 

South Shore Waste Solutions does not accept these items. They must be put in a sharps containers and returned to a local pharmacy.

Containers can be picked up free of charge at any pharmacy or Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) supply center. Learn more about the Safe Sharps Program.