Purpose
Our natural environment is a top priority and we work to keep it healthy for future generations. The Town partners with local and regional organizations — including the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve (SNBR), a UNESCO-recognized area covering five counties — to guide conservation and stewardship.
Waste management
Yarmouth follows provincial best practices for waste management to reduce landfill use. Our collection partner, Waste Check, helps us divert recyclables and organics so materials can be reused or turned into compost.
Recycling
- Use two blue bags: one for paper, one for cans and containers.
- Recyclables from Yarmouth and Digby Counties go to Scotia Recycling to be sorted, reclaimed, and shipped to markets for recycling.
Organics
- Collected every two weeks.
- Use the green cart at the curb with paper liners only.
- Cart sizes: 35 gal and 65 gal.
- Organics are taken to the Yarmouth Compost Plant and processed into compost.
Garbage
- Collected every two weeks.
- Use clear bags; one black/green bag is allowed per collection per household.
- Clear bags help staff spot recyclable or reusable items before landfill disposal.
Ensuring the ecological sustainability of Yarmouth is a long-term project for everyone. Please be sure to sort your trash properly and do what you can to reduce your carbon footprint whenever possible. Along with composting, recycling, and disposing of household garbage properly, you can take part in our Adopt-a-Block program. Seafood lovers can also use ThisFish to discover where their seafood came from, learn about the fishermen who harvested it, and ensure that their purchases help the environment.
How you can help
- Sort materials correctly: recyclables, organics, and garbage.
- Reduce waste by reusing and choosing products with less packaging.
- Join the Adopt-a-Block program to help keep neighbourhoods clean.
- For sustainable seafood, try ThisFish to learn where your seafood comes from and support responsible fishers.
Climate change action
We are planning for the effects of a changing climate on our town. Key plans:
- Climate Change Action Plan (2013): recommends updates to the Land Use By-law and Municipal Planning Strategy to protect infrastructure from storm surge, sea-level rise, and heavy rainfall. (Research informed by Dalhousie University and ACASA.)
- Climate Change Mitigation Action Plan (2021): sets actions for the Town’s operations to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
Documents and links
pdf
(323 KB)
pdf
Climate Change Action Plan(3.40 MB)
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Climate Change Mitigation Action Plan(323 KB)
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Municipal Planning Strategy(6.22 MB)