Human Activity and the Environment: Solid waste

Canadian households continue to generate more solid waste, and the majority of it ends up in landfill sites.

Each Canadian generated about 383 kilograms of solid waste on average in 2002, of which about one-fifth was recycled or otherwise diverted, according to a report in the 2005 edition of Human Activity and the Environment, the annual compendium of information on how Canadians interact with their environment.

In 2002, the residential component of Canada's waste was estimated at just over 12 million tonnes, a 6.8% increase from 2000. The total was equivalent to about 383 kg per person, or around 30 green garbage bags.

An estimated 2.5 million tonnes, or about one-fifth of the residential total, were recycled or otherwise diverted, a 17% increase from 2000.

The remainder, about 9.5 million tonnes, was disposed of in landfills or incinerated. This represented an average of 302 kg of household waste per person, up 2.4% from 2000.

The report showed that waste management services cost municipal governments more than $1.5 billion in 2002.

More than 40% of this money was spent collecting waste and recyclable material, while a further 25% was spent operating disposal facilities. A further 10% went to running recycling and composting programs.

Household garbage accounts for less than half of all solid waste

Household garbage accounts for less than half of all solid waste generated in Canada.

In total, the nation produced just over 30.4 million tonnes of solid waste in 2002 from all sources, such as residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, construction and demolition. This was 3.9% higher than the total in 2000, and amounted to 971 kg per person on average.

Of this total, the 12 million tonnes of residential waste accounted for just under 40%. Industrial, commercial and institutional sources accounted for just under one-half.

Many factors affect production of waste. Solid waste tends to grow with economic output. As income and consumption of goods rise, more waste gets discarded.

Changes in society, such as the trend toward fewer people per household, also have an impact on waste production. Census data show that in 1981 households consisting of one or two people represented 49% of all households; by 2001, they accounted for 58%. All households, regardless of size or composition, consume certain basic goods such as furniture, appliances, newspapers and other products. When there are fewer members in each household to share these goods, per capita consumption and waste generation tend to go up.

Recycling: A widespread and accepted part of waste management

Recycling has grown during the past 20 years to the point where it is a widespread and accepted part of waste management services.

In 2002, 6.6 million tonnes of non-hazardous waste materials were prepared for recycling by local waste management organizations and companies.

The bulk of recycled material consisted of two categories: paper and cardboard, which accounted for 46% of the total, and organic materials, which made up 18%.

Industrial, commercial and institutional sources provided just over one-half of the materials prepared for recycling. Households accounted for 39%.

Canadian paper mills recycled an estimated 2.8 million tonnes of waste paper in 2002. Since 1995, about 40% of waste paper has been recycled each year, compared with only 26% in 1990.

In contrast, composting occurred on a much smaller scale. In 2002, centralized composting facilities composted an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of organic waste. (The amount diverted through backyard composters or on-site by industry is not known.)

There were 351 centralized facilities composting organic waste in 2002, compared with 255 in 2000.

Waste management industry: "E-waste" a new challenge

The waste management industry consists of many small players and a few very large ones. Industry revenues surpassed $4.1 billion in 2002, up 19.4% from 2000.

Of the 1,785 waste management businesses operating in 2002, the top five firms reported 34% of revenues and 55% of the 24,355 jobs in the industry.

The industry faces many new challenges, such as mitigating environmental hazards associated with waste, and the burgeoning stream of "e-waste," including, for example, computers, television sets, stereos and cell phones.

According to Environment Canada, an estimated 140,000 tonnes of e-waste are discarded annually in Canadian landfills, and this number continues to increase.

E-wastes contain toxic materials such as lead, mercury, arsenic and chromium, all of which are known or suspected to harm wildlife and human health.

E-waste re-use organizations are active in most provinces. In 2000, Ontario had only four companies in the business of recycling information technology equipment; by 2004, there were 14.

Other environmental highlights

In addition to the article on solid waste, Human Activity and the Environment also provides a comprehensive set of data describing how Canadians interact with the environment. It includes data on topics such as climate, natural resources, ecosystems, and environmental practices.

Human Activity and the Environment: Annual Statistics 2005 (16-201-XIE, $26; 16-201-XPE, $46, including CD-ROM) is now available. See How to order to products.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts methods or data quality of this release, contact (613-951-0297; fax: 613-951-0634; environ@statcan.gc.ca), Environment Accounts and Statistics Division.