Publications | Ecology Action Centre

NEW: Comments on the Centre Plan (May 2018)

Solid Waste

State of the Art/Art of the Possible
On July 10, 2015, more than 40 experts in solid waste/resource management from across Nova Scotia met at the Fairbanks Centre, Shubie Park. Together they represented the private, public (provincial and municipal), institutional, academic and nonprofit sectors. Apartment-building owners were also invited but none were in attendance. The full-day workshop was hosted by the Ecology Action Centre and focused on resource efficiency and waste reduction and diversion. Below are documents from the event:

Summary
Output Statement (pdf)
Unedited Notes (pdf)
Powerpoint Presentation by Doug Hickman, New Horizons (pdf)
Waste Management & Diversion - a municipal perspective (pdf)

EAC’s Submission to Nova Scotia Department of Environment on proposed changes to Solid Waste Management Regulations under Section 102 of Environment Act
(August, 2014)

Pesticides

Pesticide Free Nova Scotia Letter to HRM Council Re: HRM staff briefing note on repeal of Pesticide Bylaw (April 10, 2014)
Supporting document: List of Certified Class 1 Vendors

Comparison of Halifax Regional Municipality’s Bylaw P-800 and S Provincial Pesticide Regulation (March, 2014)
Keeping both is the best way to protect health and environment because the two levels of protection are complimentary.

Pesticide Free Nova Scotia 2013 Report on Nova Scotia’s Cosmetic Pesticides Ban (October, 2013)
Dramatic increase in pesticide violations.

Pesticide Free Nova Scotia’s Response to the Proposed Non-Essential Pesticide Ban (March 3, 2010)

Follow Ontario and Quebec in Pesticide Policy (2009)
Pesticide Free Nova Scotia endorses the provincial pesticide bans passed by Quebec and Ontario. PFNS urges the Nova Scotia government to follow suit, and avoid the pitfalls of New Brunswick’s much weaker pesticide policy.

Five reasons why the provincial government should pass a province wide ban on sale and use of cosmetic pesticides (September 2009)
The NDP Government is currently drafting provincial legislation on cosmetic (i.e. lawn) pesticides. Now is the time to let the NDP government know where you stand on cosmetic pesticides. For information on why a provincial ban is important, please read the document above. To take action, please click here.

Eliminate the Sale and Use of Cosmetic Pesticides (September 9, 2009)
This document, endorsed by the many health and environmental organizations of Pesticide Free Nova Scotia, and the municipalities of Wolfville and Springhill, outlines how the provincial government can protect the environment and the health of Nova Scotians from dangerous and completely unnecessary cosmetic pesticides.

Nova Scotia lagging on reducing pesticides
-Originally published in the Chronicle Herald, July 27, 2009

Cosmetic Pesticide Bans Spark Economic Growth (2009)
Contrary to the conventional wisdom that cosmetic pesticide legislation costs money, this document explains how pesticide bans spark job creation and save government money on health-care expenditures.

Federal Regulation of Cosmetic Pesticides is Not Enough Protection
for Nova Scotians (2009)
This document explains why the current federal regulations leave too many loopholes to adequately protect us from cosmetic pesticide use.

Health Risks Associated with Pesticide Exposure (2009)
A brief yet detailed and thoroughly researched document explaining the scientifically determined health risks of pesticides.

Label Instructions Are Not a Substitute for a Cosmetic Pesticide Ban (2009)
This document explains why simply labeling a product as a potential health risk does not prevent misuse.

Provinces must stand up to bullying on pesticide bans
Originally published in the Chronicle Herald, November 6, 2008

Letter from the province's Chief Medical Office, Dr. Strang, stating his position on cosmetic pesticides
published here with permission
-May 19, 2008

Building Green

Nova Scotia Built Environment 2030 (January, 2014)

Waste? NOT! Toolkit
Waste? Not!Construction and demolition (C&D) material makes up almost a third of all solid waste in the province. In response to this issue the Ecology Action Centre in conjunction with the RRFB Nova Scotia has just released the Waste? NOT! Toolkit a booklet and web site with practical advice for homeowners and building professionals looking for ways to reduce the amount of C&D material going to landfills.

Saving the Morris Building (December 2009)
This report by Built Environment Committee member Aaron Murnaghan provides background on the Morris building and EAC and other groups’ efforts to save it. Included is a wealth of historical information and tentative plans for the relocation of the building. Keeping a soundly-built, historically significant building out of a landfill is the first step in changing minds on conventional construction and demolition practices.

Green Renovation Factsheets:
These factsheets were created as handouts for a workshop series in early 2009. They are still available here for your information.

Greening Buildings: Inspirational ways to reduce your ecological footprint (2007) In the summer of 2007, interns Claire Simmons & Trisha Dempsey researched buildings around HRM that have used green building or renovation techniques. This document is the result.

Green Roofs

Nova Scotia Green Roof Manual (June 2009)
The Green Roof Policy Manual provides an up-to-date outline of various law and policy tools available in the Municipal Governing Act (MGA) and the HRM Charter, in order to increase the construction and use of green roofs in the province of Nova Scotia. The Manual also examines the nature and benefits of green roofs, the regulatory measures that municipalities can use to promote green roofs, and how other North American cities have implemented these measures. For more information on green roofs, please contact BEC Chair, Scott McIvor.