Alerts

Provincial Extended Producer Responsibility regulations bring enhancements to recycling in Nova Scotia

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Category: Alerts
Published: Tuesday, 18 November 2025 15:06

On Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, provincial regulations for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) will come into effect across Nova Scotia. These regulations shift the operational and financial responsibility for recycling packaging and paper products to the companies that produce, import or sell them.

Municipalities of Pictou County and Pictou County Solid Waste have opted into the program and will continue to provide curbside recycling collection for residential properties. Residents will have the same contracted service provider, collection day and customer supports available through Pictou County Solid Waste.

Circular Materials, a national not-for-profit organization, is responsible for managing the collection and processing of materials under the new system. The administrator, Divert NS, oversees the program to ensure compliance with provincial regulations. Learn more about Divert NS and Circular Materials here.

These provincial regulations determine which materials are accepted for recycling. Starting on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, residents will be able to recycle a consistent list of materials no matter where you live in Nova Scotia. Some items will be added to the curbside recycling program, while others will be removed.

New items accepted in blue bag curbside recycling include:

  • Multi-layer paper containers, such as:
    • paper cups (including disposable paper hot and cold beverage cups)
    • paper bowls
    • ice cream cartons
    • cookie dough spiral cans
    • frozen juice spiral cans
    • potato chip spiral cans
  • Plastic tubes, including:
    • toothpaste
    • deodorant
    • hand cream containers
  • Small item plastic packaging, such as:
    • bottles/pumps
    • candy/gum containers
    • pails
    • garden pots
    • seedling trays

The following items will no longer be accepted in the curbside recycling program:

  • books (which can be donated to community library boxes/thrift shops, or shared with others to be reused)

The following items will be accepted at participating depot drop-off locations:

  • foam packaging (such as meat trays, takeout containers);
  • flexible plastics (such as coffee or deli pouches, chip bags, bubble wrap, vacuum packaging, candy and snack wrappers and cereal liner bags); and
  • non-hazardous aerosol cans (food spray, hairspray, air fresheners, shaving cream).

The depot drop-off is not mandatory. Residents are encouraged to bring their non-hazardous aerosol cans, flexible plastics and foam packaging to participating drop off locations for recycling.  Pictou County Solid Waste is committed to reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. We encourage residents to use the depot system as it continues to evolve. Updates will be shared with residents as they become available from Circular Materials.

 

Recycling routines for residents and businesses

Residents should continue sorting recyclables into blue bags and placing them at the curb on their regular collection day. For questions or service concerns, residents can contact Pictou County Solid Waste. Please be patient as we continue to update our app and sorting guide during the transition.  Businesses may continue to deliver recyclables to the Pictou County Solid Waste Management Facility located at 220 Landfill Road, Mount William, subject to the appropriate tipping fee.

Learn more: https://www.circularmaterials.ca/resident-provinces/nova-scotia/ or visit: https://www.pcwastemgmt.com/recycling/