Our latest waste diversion data are for 2023, when 9.8 million tonnes of materials from both residential and non-residential sources were diverted from landfills in Canada. While this number is down from that recorded in 2022 and in 2020 (9.9 million tonnes), it is up from 9.6 million tonnes in 2018.
In addition, the 376 444 tonnes of diverted plastic in 2023 were an increase of nearly 10 000 tonnes (+2.7%) from 2022, reversing a 1 649-tonne slide (-0.4%) from 2020 to 2022.
Furthermore, 5 of the 14 categories of materials saw an increase in diversion from 2022 to 2023. Among those five, only ferrous metals (+46 568 to 787 422 tonnes) increased at a larger amount than plastics. This was to be expected, given that considerably more ferrous materials are diverted overall than plastic.
Residential sources accounted for about three-quarters (74.2%) of diverted plastic in 2023, up slightly from 2022 (72.2%).
However, plastic continues to pollute the environment. Let’s break down exactly how much and what types.
Plastic continues to pollute
The Physical Flow Account for Plastic Material tracks the life cycle of various types of plastic, including production and diversion. The most recent data are from 2021, when Canadians discarded nearly 5.0 million tonnes of plastic, working out to 130 kilograms per person. Discarded plastic includes waste from all streams (e.g., residential, industrial, commercial, construction and demolition).
The total plastic discarded was up slightly from 2020 (4.9 million tonnes) and down from 2019 (5.1 million tonnes), but it was up considerably from 2012 (4.3 million tonnes), the year we started tracking these data.
Most (99.2%) plastic material discarded in 2021 was collected by waste and recycling management systems. However, there were 40 262 tonnes of plastic that leaked into the environment that year. This volume represented a slight decline from 2020 (40 310 tonnes) and 2019 (40 932 tonnes) but up from 2012 (36 394 tonnes).
Packaging still the top polluter
There were 17 644 tonnes of packaging—including bottles, film, non-bottle rigid and other packaging products, such as bottle caps, lids and lipstick tubes—that leaked into the environment in 2021. Packaging made up more than two-fifths (43.8%) of all leaked plastic (i.e., plastic that entered the environment as pollution) that year and is consistently the highest proportion in every year.
Other sources of leaked plastic in 2021 included vehicles (12.5%) and electrical and electronic equipment, including major appliances (10.0%), textiles (6.1%) and construction materials (3.7%).
Beating plastic pollution—it’s up to all of us
In 2021, 7.1 million tonnes of plastic were produced for Canadian consumption, nearly two-thirds of which was packaging (28.0%), construction materials (22.3%) and vehicles (14.6%).
In other words, the demand for plastic remains high. So, what can Canadians do in their everyday lives to reduce their plastic consumption? Our colleagues at Environment and Climate Change Canada have some ideas, including choosing more reusable and recyclable products and pitching in on cleanup efforts.
This year’s focus of Canadian Environment Week (June 1 to 7), coinciding with World Environment Day (June 5), is ending plastic pollution and achieving the same goal on a global level.
Looking ahead
On June 9, 2025, StatCan will release new data for the Households and the Environment Survey on how households did with plastic waste reduction in 2023. In 2021, for example, nearly all (97%) Canadian households used their own bags or containers when grocery shopping. Half (51%) of those households always used them, while one-third (33%) of them often did and over one-eighth (12%) of them sometimes did.
Industrial research and development (R&D) data for 2023 (actual), 2024 (preliminary) and 2025 (intentions) will be released later this summer. For example, in 2022, Canadian businesses spent $66 million on R&D in industrial biotechnology, which uses living cells and enzymes to make items such as biodegradable plastics.
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Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).