The Town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, has released its 2026 Solid Waste Collection Calendar to help households manage their trash and recycling under updated rules. The calendar, released in late January 2026, is available at Town Hall and online so residents know which days to put out their bins and how to sort items correctly.
The town requires a strict clear-bag system: garbage (non-recyclable waste) must be placed in clear bags so collectors can verify contents and check for recyclables or organics mixed in. Each household is permitted one opaque (black or dark green) bag or container per scheduled collection day for privacy items; all additional garbage must be in clear bags. Residents may place one bulky item (for example, a chair or mattress) at the curb on their regular garbage & compostainer collection weeks.
A major change for the province is the rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paper. Circular Materials, a producer-led non-profit, assumed responsibility for Nova Scotia’s EPR program for packaging and paper on December 1, 2025 — shifting responsibility for packaging and paper recycling funding and management away from municipalities to the producers of packaging. Residents can find municipal collection guidance and specifics on how to sort paper and plastic at the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre’s collection pages.
Winter weather has already affected schedules. The Town announced that collection originally scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, was rescheduled to Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, because of storm conditions. The Town’s Public Works office urges residents to use the calendar, watch for updates, or check the R6RECYCLES app to avoid bags being left out in bad weather or missed by trucks.
For organics, residents must not place plastic (including so-called “compostable” plastic) bags in green carts — those have not been accepted since November 1, 2022. Use paper liners or put loose food scraps directly into the organics cart. Copies of the 2026 calendar were mailed to residents; anyone who did not receive a paper copy can pick one up at Town Hall or download the PDF from the town website.
