About South Shore Waste Solutions
Our Mission
To provide our stakeholders with the optimal environment and economic benefits associated with responsible solid waste management by ensuring the efficient operation of South Shore Waste Solutions, maximum diversion from landfill, courteous service to the public and by providing incentives and educative services to encourage the community to reduce waste, reuse whenever possible, and recycle and compost correctly.
Nearly one-third of household waste was diverted from landfill. The seed had been planted!
Our History
South Shore Waste Solutions is a shared service of the Municipal Shared Services organization, which is a joint partnership of the District of Lunenburg, the Town of Bridgewater and the Town of Mahone Bay. South Shore Waste Solutions proudly serves the over 35,000 residents and commercial clients in the region. South Shore Waste Solutions has a long history as a leader in best-practice waste management.
The site first opened in 1977, when trash was incinerated onsite. As environmental science advanced and population grew, recycling became top-of-mind. In 1991, the District, Town of Mahone Bay, Town of Bridgewater, and Town of Lunenburg came together and established a Waste Management Committee. At that time, the site housed a silo incinerator for bagged waste, a pit burner for waste wood and dry landfill for non-combustibles and ash from the incinerators.
One thousand households representing each of the four municipal areas took part in a pilot project in 1992, with each household receiving a green cart and kitchen container for collection of organics, a supply of blue bags and a recycling brochure. The result:
Nearly one-third of household waste was diverted from landfill. The seed had been planted!
The early 1990’s was a time of significant expansion at the site. On-site processing of organics into compost, as well as recyclables sorting both started at that time. By 1995, waste was no longer incinerated and recyclables were sorted onsite.
Landfilling on site continued until 2005 when the last landfill cell was closed and capped. Monitoring of the capped landfill cells continues today as required by provincial permits. On-site sorting of recyclables continued until 2012 when processing was outsourced.
In 2013 the Municipal Joint Services Board was created through a cost sharing arrangement to better serve residents of the District of Lunenburg, the Town of Bridgewater and the Town of Mahone Bay. Each partnering unit appointed three members to the governing Board of Directors. South Shore Waste Solutions was the first municipal shared service created under this arrangement.
In 2013 the Municipal Joint Services Board was created through a cost sharing arrangement to better serve residents of the District of Lunenburg, the Town of Bridgewater and the Town of Mahone Bay. Each partnering unit appointed three members to the governing Board of Directors. South Shore Waste Solutions was the first municipal shared service created under this arrangement.
In addition to operating a world-class facility, staff provide environmental education programs, resource materials and face-to-face community outreach programs—all to encourage our customers to reduce their waste even further, save money, and protect the environment.
