INVERNESS: The Municipality of Inverness County has approved the introduction of new tipping fees for construction and demolition (C&D) materials, as well as non-residential waste, at the Kenloch Waste Management Facility.
The changes, approved during a council meeting on May 22, will take effect on Sept. 2, 2025.
This marks the first significant update to the municipality’s waste disposal rates since 2006. The revised fees are being implemented in response to rising operational and transportation costs, as well as to ensure compliance with evolving provincial waste management regulations.
Under the new fee structure, the rates for construction and demolition materials will be: $48 per metric tonne for sorted loads; $110 per metric tonne for unsorted loads, and $235 per metric tonne for mixed loads containing garbage, recyclables, organics, or banned materials.
Construction and demolition waste includes a broad range of materials such as clean and treated lumber, drywall, asphalt shingles, concrete, masonry, metals, glass, insulation, plaster, flooring, fixtures, cabinetry, windows, and doors.
Additionally, for the first time, the municipality will introduce a tipping fee for non-residential residual waste, also effective Sept. 2, with the new rate being $97.20 per metric tonne. Residential solid waste disposal will remain unaffected by these changes.
Businesses will now incur charges for garbage disposal, whether waste is delivered directly to the facility or through a contracted hauler. Municipal officials are encouraging commercial customers to contact their waste service providers to understand how the new fees may affect their collection rates.
“These changes are necessary to ensure we can cover the operational and transportation costs required to sustain this vital community service,” Chief Administrative Officer for the Municipality of the County of Inverness Keith MacDonald said. “We understand that change takes time. Similar to the transition during the treated lumber ban, we are committed to supporting residents and businesses throughout this process.”
The implementation of the new tipping fees follows a regulatory update from the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change. As of March 28, the Kenloch facility is no longer approved to operate as a C&D landfill.
“While the municipality explored the development of a new C&D landfill, regulatory, environmental, space, and financial constraints made the project unfeasible,” the municipality said in a statement.
Moving forward, all construction and demolition waste delivered to Kenloch will be transported to GFL Environmental’s landfill in Guysborough County or another approved facility, depending on the type and condition of the material.
Warden Bonny MacIsaac emphasized the importance of collaboration and sustainability in waste management.
“The Municipality of Inverness County is committed to building strong partnerships with our neighboring communities and identifying responsible, cost-effective solutions for waste management,” she said. “Our goal is to protect the environment while investing in a healthier, more sustainable future for our residents.”
Municipal staff at the Kenloch facility will spend the next three months educating residents and businesses about the upcoming changes. Officials stress that proper sorting of materials will be critical to ensuring compliance and supporting broader waste reduction and recycling efforts.