General FAQs
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.
FAQs for Households
Visit the regional landfill or any transfer station with a piece of photo ID to replace your card. There is a $2 replacement charge.
Yes, every household needs a card to drop off any material at the landfill or a transfer station. There is no charge for the card for residents, and you can get one by visiting any CNWM site with a piece of photo ID. See CNWM Card to learn more.
Sort It Central is a mandatory program. Our priority is to work with everyone to ensure recyclable waste stays out of the landfill. Through public education, we’re working to ensure everyone understands how the program works and how to do their part to protect the environment.
Households that do not properly sort their waste for the program may find their waste is not collected. A sticker will be placed on rejected material to identify the issue. Once the issue is remedied by the resident, the waste will be collected during the next weekly collection period. Waste that is brought to a CNWM site for drop off that has not been properly sorted (for example, garbage that also contains recyclables) will incur an additional fee. See the Fee Schedule.
Organic waste—food waste and yard waste—accounts for a significant portion of what fills up a landfill. And unfortunately, when organic waste is disposed of in this way, it releases harmful emissions. Residents and businesses can reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill by backyard composting organic waste, participating in a community composting program, or by “grasscycling.” Learn about grasscycling and composting at RethinkWasteNL.ca.
Hazardous waste is not accepted at the curb or roadside. Residents can dispose of household hazardous waste (as well as electronic waste, appliances and other materials) at a transfer station or the Central Regional Waste Management Site in Norris Arm. Learn more about Public Drop-Off for certain kinds of waste.
Sharp objects such as broken glass, needles and knives should be put inside a puncture-proof container (such as an empty jar) and then placed inside a clear garbage bag. Please do not place these inside a recyclable container; if you must use a recyclable container (such as a milk carton), clearly label the container “SHARPS”.
Several charities, churches and second-hand stores accept used items for donation so they can share them with those in need. Please try to find a second home and a new life for your unwanted clothing, shoes, toys, books and other goods.
Cat litter and diapers can be placed inside a clear kitchen catcher type bag or one of the two allowed opaque privacy bags inside the clear garbage bag.
Contact your municipality or Local Service District Committee for bag limits. Bags should not exceed the weight limit of 22 kg (50 lbs).
As part of the Sort It program, you can use clear kitchen catcher type bags if they are placed inside a clear regular size garbage bag (66 cm x 82.5 cm or 26 inches x 32.5 inches). Two small opaque bags of any colour (such as grocery bags) can be used as privacy bags and placed inside a clear garbage bag.
Local retailers throughout the central region offer transparent blue recycling bags and clear garbage bags.
Size and weight requirements: Garbage and recycling bags must be regular size: 66 cm x 82.5 cm (26 inches x 32.5 inches). When filled, each bag must not weigh more than 22 kg (50 lbs).
Recyclables and garbage are collected weekly. Confirm your Collection Schedule here, or contact your municipality or Local Service District Committee for collection routes and schedules. Public Notices will be issued on this website when holidays or bad weather interfere with the regular collection, and will be announced on local radio.
CNWM requires you to use clear bags for garbage disposal to help ensure recyclables and hazardous materials are not thrown into the landfill. Clear bags also improve safety for our collectors by allowing them to see contents in the bag such as broken glass, needles and other sharp items that can cause injuries.
Everyone needs some privacy. Two small opaque bags of any colour (such as grocery bags) can be placed inside your clear garbage bag each week to accommodate your privacy needs. Additional waste must be in a clear bag. Clear bags may also be placed in garbage cans or boxes curbside for additional privacy and to secure waste from scavenging and animals—check with your local municipality or Local Service District Committee for regulations in your community.
CNWM now uses special “split stream” trucks that are divided into two components—one side for garbage and the other for recycling. From the side, it can look like collectors are mixing garbage and recyclables but the blue and clear bags are being placed in different compartments.
FAQs for Businesses
Certain businesses and organizations can request permission to use a black bag. Requests must be sent in a letter to CNWM that details the nature of the business and the types of waste produced. Examples of businesses granted permission include: funeral homes, slaughter houses, hospitals, medical facilities, dental offices and animal hospitals. Black bags are also accepted from international waste sources (such as from ships or planes). Haulers are notified by the customer and/or by CNWM that this permission has been granted.
All CNWM sites are monitored. At the scales, a picture is taken to identify each vehicle and its load. The scale house attendant radios out information to the drop off areas, where compliance is also monitored. Security surveillance for all sites is live at all times and reviewed periodically throughout the day by staff.
If a non-compliant load is delivered, a landfill or transfer station attendant will email a picture of the load and the corresponding load number, time, date and weight to the hauler.
Non-compliant waste is waste that is not properly sorted and disposed of at the regional landfill and /or transfer station. Examples are:
- Recyclable material (identified under Sort It Businesses) in a clear bag going to the landfill
- Non-recyclable items put in blue bags for recycling
- Clean cardboard going to landfill
- Black/green garbage bags that do not have a permit for disposal
- Any mixture of clear/blue bags and or cardboard going to the landfill or recycling facility
The Sort It program is mandatory. Our priority is to work with the ICI sector to provide information and education on a continual basis. Businesses that do not properly sort their waste may have their waste rejected for pick-up by their collector.
Waste that is brought to a CNWM site that is non-compliant will incur an additional fee (see Fee Schedule). If the waste collector identifies the business that was non-compliant, CNWM will invoice that business. If the waste collector cannot or will not identify the business, the collector will be charged the fee.
No. Only household hazardous waste is accepted at CNWM sites. Businesses must contact a waste collector for proper disposal of hazardous materials.
To safely dispose of/recycle electronics, businesses should visit recycleMYelectronics.ca or call the Electronic Products Recycling Association for information, toll-free at 1-888-567-4535.
Businesses may drop off (or contract a private waste collector) to take their sorted recyclables and regular garbage to a CNWM site. See Sort It Businesses for details.
Several other kinds of waste can also be disposed of at these sites. See Commercial Services for what is and isn’t accepted from businesses in Central.
Can’t find the answer you need?
Contact us at info@cnwmc.com or call (709) 653–2900.