The Central Regional Waste Management Site at Norris Arm is a state-of-the-art, lined landfill with leachate control protection—meaning it prevents harmful substances from seeping out into our water, land and air. To find out more about how it works, watch this short video.
Sort It Central is a mandatory garbage and recycling curbside collection program. Launched in 2015, the program requires all residents and businesses in Central Newfoundland to sort recyclables separately from other garbage. Residents place their recyclables into transparent blue bags for convenient curb or roadside collection. Garbage goes in clear plastic bags. Businesses can contact their waste collector to ensure services include the collection of recyclables.
Sort It Central helps us extend the life of the regional landfill at Norris Arm by reducing the amount of waste we put into it. It also helps us protect the environment by recycling what can be turned into something new, and disposing safely of hazardous waste.
When everyone does their part to reduce, reuse and recycle, we generate less garbage—and that ultimately means lower operating costs for managing waste. And recycled material generates revenue that comes back to the region, helping offset waste management costs in the region. Also, by reclaiming material that can be used again, we reduce the need to harvest new raw materials and manufacture new products, which in turn conserves natural resources, saves energy and reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
The blue bags used for recycling are not recyclable, so once emptied, they must be disposed of in the landfill. Sometimes, material placed in blue bags is too contaminated to be recycled (for example, cardboard that is soaked with oil) and must be disposed of in the landfill.