The province has shifted to a new recycling program, operated by Circular Materials.

HRM says it is part of the province’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) initiative, which comes into effect December 1.

It means the producers who supply packaging and paper products are responsible for what to do with them when they reach the end of their life.

The shift is expected to result in operational savings and get more materials out of landfills.

What does it mean for you?

You still have the same recycling service, however new items are allowed:

• • 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); and
  • pots and pans (which can be donated or taken to a scrap metal depot)