Nova Scotia lifts plastic film landfill ban

The Nova Scotia Department of Environment has granted a temporary exemption to the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) to allow it to ship plastic film to a landfill.

The exemption is limited to HRM and only film plastics such as plastic shopping bags, the wrap around toilet paper and paper towels, and the wrapping around water bottles, beverage or juice cans. The exemption will last for six months and is limited to Green for Life’s landfill in West Hants, Nova Scotia, Canada. Other recyclables are still banned from the province’s landfills.

The decision follows China’s announcement, made last year, that it would no longer allow imports of used plastic films for recycling purposes.

Plastic film makes up about five percent of materials currently being recycled in Nova Scotia. Most materials, such as paper, beverage containers and margarine tubs can still be recycled as usual.

“This is only a temporary measure,” says Environment Minister Iain Rankin. “Nova Scotia is a leader in recycling and waste diversion, and we will continue to be. We all want to see these materials recycled, not put into the landfill.”

“Putting film plastic in the landfill is a last resort,” says Matt Keliher, HRM’s manager of solid waste. “We have been actively looking for new markets and will continue to do that in the months to come.”

“I encourage all Nova Scotians to use reusable bags, and reduce their use of these materials wherever possible,” says Rankin. “The province will work with industry, municipalities and others on this issue.”