Waste Disposal

Construction and Demolition (C&D)

The GFL Waste Facility operates its C&D site in accordance with Department of Environment regulations. Only waste generated by construction and demolition projects are accepted at the C&D site. There is no curbside pickup of C&D material.  This material must be delivered to the site during normal site hours.

Acceptable C&D Waste:

  • Concrete & brick
  • Grubbing & brush
  • Clean soil & rock
  • Wood ceiling treated & untreated
  • Siding, tile, gyproc & insulation
  • Solid roofing materials
  • Glass, vinyl window casings
  • Carpets, floor coverings
  • Asphalt

Not Acceptable C&D Waste:

  • Drywall compound boxes or pails
  • Insulation bags, cans, drums or other packages
  • Roofing adhesives
  • Tars
  • Waterproofing compounds
  • Roofing product packaging
  • Metals
  • Light ballast
  • Fluorescent light tubes
  • High intensity discharge lights
  • Mercury thermostats
  • Cushion flooring/linoleum
  • (These materials must be separated into recycling, garbage, or household hazardous waste)

Household Hazardous Waste

Household hazardous materials are not to be disposed of in normal garbage, landfills or sewers. Generally speaking, hazardous waste consists of discarded solid or liquid materials, or containers holding gases, which may be harmful to people or the environment. They may be flammable, corrosive, explosive or toxic.  Hazardous materials may be taken to the Waste Management Facility at any time, and twice a year, the Municipality offers collection at 15-20 sites across the District.

Ordinary household items as cleaning fluids, solvents and paints, automotive supplies, and garden-care materials contain substances which, if not used and disposed of safely, can harm living things and the environment. Some chemicals found in consumer products cause allergic reactions, headaches, burns, nausea, coughs and dizziness, while others are associated with liver or kidney damage, cancer, and birth defects.

Children are at particular risk from the potentially-hazardous drugs and chemicals found around the home. Neglected or unsecured medicines are the most common cause of poisoning in children, followed by familiar household products. To prevent tragedy, search out the old, unused and outdated medications in your home and take them to your local pharmacy. It's advisable too, to check every room in your house for potential poisons. Know which products are poisonous and know where they are. Any products no longer being used should be disposed of properly.

Household hazardous waste is received at the waste facility and a bulk collection container program travels during the months of May and October throughout the municipality where hazardous and bulk items can be dropped off.

Common Hazardous Products Include:

  • Aerosol cans (with contents)
  • Adhesives
  • Antifreeze coolants
  • Batteries (household/car)
  • Bleach
  • Butane cartridge
  • Car care products
  • Chemicals
  • Cleaning products

Electronics

The Municipality has curbside collection for approved electronics. The Guysborough Waste Management Facility is also a drop off center for electronics.

Approved Products List:

  • Desktop Computers 
  • Desktop Servers
  • Computers with Integrated Displays
  • Computer Peripherals 
  • Keyboards
  • Mice
  • Cables
  • Laptop Computers 
  • Tablet Computers
  • Desktop Printers 
  • Scanners
  • Photo Printers
  • Label/Card Printers
  • Desktop Printer Combinations
  • Monitors 
  • CRT Monitors
  • LCD Monitors
  • Plasma Monitors
  • Televisions 
  • Combination TV/Computer Displays
  • Closed Circuit Displays
  • Personal Audio/Video Systems
  • Portable Devices including docking speakers
  • Portable Stereos/tape Players/Radios
  • Personal CD Players
  • Portable Audio Recorders/Portable Tape/Radio Players
  • Headphones
  • MP3 Players
  • Solid State Voice Recorders
  • Digital Recorders
  • Digital Cameras
  • Video Cameras/Camcorders
  • Note: Does not include gaming systems
  • Vehicle Audio/Video Systems (Aftermarket)
  • Car Stereo Amplifiers/Equalizers/speakers and in-dash CD Players
  • Home Theatre in a Box (HTB) Systems
  • Pre-packaged Speaker/Amplifier Systems used to create Home Theatre experience
  • Home Audio/Video Systems
  • VCRs and DVD Players
  • Mini/Mid/Full Size Package Systems
  • Single/Multi CD Players
  • Clock Radios
  • Digital Cable Equipment
  • Satellite Cable Equipment
  • Speakers (Home Speakers, Home Theatre Speakers, Multi-Media Speakers)
  • Amplifiers
  • Receivers
  • Data Projectors and similar Audio/Video Systems
  • Non-Cellular Telephones
  • Wire Telephones
  • Cordless Telephones
  • Telephone Answering Machines

Electronic Waste Program Update
Expanded EOLE Flyer
Expanded EOLE Details

Recycling and Composting

Pandemic Recyclables Collection and Processing
Monthly Bulk Collection and Annual Community Bulk Container Program

To view the full sort guide for regular waste (clear bags), recyclables & paper waste (blue bags) and what can be disposed of in your green cart click the following link.
Sorting Guide

Compost is beneficial if mixed with garden soil and as a top dress on grass, so it is important to avoid the following materials:

  • diseased or infected plants
  • pet wastes
  • mature weeds with seeds

Composting Tips

Cover the greens from your kitchen and garden with browns from the kitchen and garden.

Regularly use a pitchfork or other digging tool to mix in newly added green materials.
Turning the pile will add air needed by the micro-organism to break the pile down properly.
Always cover with a layer of browns.

By covering the food waste you will minimize fruit fly problems and the occurrence of other pests.
Keep the material in the composter about as damp as a wrung-out sponge. A composter that is too wet or dry may stop working.

The smaller the organic materials, the quicker the materials will turn into compost. By using both materials from the house and yard you should get the right mix of carbon and nitrogen. By adding some finished compost or topsoil to the pile you will introduce organisms that help get the pile working.

Backyard composters are used in the Municipality of the District of Guysborough. Composters can be purchased at the Municipal office or at the Waste Management Facility for the subsidized price of $25 each.

If residents choose not to backyard compost, any solid waste bag placed at curbside with backyard compostable material will be rejected.

Residents also can (if they choose) deliver all of their organic waste including fish, and meat bones to the Waste Management Facility during normal operating hours. The Guysborough Waste Management Facility has, from time to time, compost available for sale. It is recommended to call the site. Our toll free number 1-888-232-2316 for availability.

Zero Plastics Policy

The facility’s compost facility has had an ongoing problem with large amounts of plastics in the organics. We are planning to cut the practice out as it has a negative effect on the compost process and the equipment. Commercial loads of contaminated organics will, as a deterrent be charged a higher tip fee or rejected. With zero tolerance for plastics and other contaminates such as large rocks, large pieces of wood, pieces of metal, and glass, we can produce a higher quality of finish compost.