The municipality utilizes Nova Scotia's only MSW incinerator. Because of the investment made in this facility, which generates electricity for sale to the power grid, movement toward more organics recycling infrastructure has been slow. Progress also has been impeded by a long-term downturn in the economy. At a pilot project at the Victoria County landfill, organic material is accepted on a drop-off basis for windrow composting. Capacity here also is small.
Construction has yet to begin.
Another composting facility, operated by Fundy Compost Unlimited, treats biosolids from a municipal plant in an open windrow. While there is a complete design for Cumberland County's centralized composting facility, it has yet to be built. With the advent of a new composting facility, it is expected that the county will offer curbside collection to residents, thereby increasing diversion of solid waste from its landfill. East Hants County has opted to send organic residuals to a private facility in Halifax. Another facility owned by New Era Farms Ltd. began operating at the same time.