The pilot physical flow account for plastic material is a new environmental-economic account that estimates the flow of plastic through the Canadian economy. The account features breakdowns by product category, resin type, and province or territory, and it is a time series covering reference years 2012 to 2018.
The flow begins with production, continues through use, and then examines the various fates of plastic. Initially, plastic in items discarded in Canada either enters a waste management system or is leaked directly to the environment. After entering a waste management system, in order to be successfully recycled, plastic must first be diverted for material recovery, then sorted and baled, and then finally recycled into pellets or flakes ready to be made into new products. All plastic that is not successfully recycled or exported is disposed of, either in landfills or with incineration or gasification.
Contact information
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