Scavenging discontinued at landfill facility in eastern Shelburne County

The practice of scavenging at the Regional Materials Recovery Facility (RMRF) in West Green Harbour, Shelburne County, has come to an end.

The Municipality of Shelburne council voted in favour of discontinuing scavenging at the landfill site effective immediately when they met on July 14.

“After much consideration, this decision was made based on substantial research around a number of factors including increased demands, staff capacity, liability concerns, risk management, bylaw enforcement implications and lost revenue," reads a media release. "However, the most considerable reason was public and staff safety."

“While we understand and appreciate the benefits to the public to be able to scavenge or reuse items from the facility, the safety of the customers and our staff continue to be our priority,” says Warden Penny Smith.

“Public scavenging at municipal transfer stations is not a common practice in Nova Scotia," she adds. "This facility is one of the last to offer this service to its residents. It is never easy to discontinue a service and this decision was not made lightly. Advice from the municipality’s solicitor, insurer and looking at standard practices across the province, weighed heavily on council’s decision.”

The original intent of scavenging was to repurpose items as opposed to them being landfilled. Current practices at the RMRF see most of the construction and demolition materials being repurposed through contracts with other waste facilities, says the municipality.

“For example, asphalt shingles are used for paving products, drywall is used for farm bedding, wood is chipped and used in drainage areas, metal is used as a revenue source to offset facility costs, just to name a few.," it says.

Discontinuing scavenging was discussed with the Shared Services Team representing the Town of Lockeport, Town of Shelburne and Municipality of Shelburne, as well as the Municipality of Shelburne’s Audit and Internal Control Committee, before being recommended to municipal council.