Solid waste diversion and disposal

National solid waste diversion and disposal

Key results

• From 2002 to 2022,
  • the total amount of solid waste generated in Canada increased by 5.8 million tonnes (or 19%) to reach 36.5 million tonnes
  • the amount of waste diverted increased by 3.3 million tonnes (or 49%) to reach 9.9 million tonnes
  • the amount of waste disposed in landfills or incinerated increased by 2.5 million tonnes (or 11%) to reach 26.6 million tonnes
• In 2022, 27.1% of solid waste generated in Canada was diverted, while the remaining 72.9% was sent for disposal

Solid waste diversion and disposal, Canada, 2002 to 2022

How this indicator was calculated

Note: For 2018, 2020 and 2022, electronic and tire waste was assigned to the "unknown sources" category since it could not be attributed to either residential or non-residential sources. 
Source: Statistics Canada (2021) Table 38‑10‑0033-01. Archived - Materials diverted, by source, inactive. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 38-10-0032-01. Disposal of waste, by source. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 38-10-0138-01. Waste materials diverted, by type and by source.

Waste refers to any non-hazardous or hazardous material that is discarded and managed at recycling facilities or disposal sites. More specifically, "solid waste" refers to recyclables, organic materials (such as food waste) and garbage generated by residential sources (households) and non‑residential sources, which include the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors and the construction, renovation and demolition sectors.^{Footnote 1 Footnote 2}

In 2022, residential sources were responsible for 50.2% of diverted solid waste^{Footnote 3}   and 40.2% of disposed solid waste. From 2002 to 2022, the amount of solid waste diverted from residential sources increased by 78.3% (or 2.2 million tonnes), while the amount of waste disposed from residential sources increased by 26.7% (or 2.3 million tonnes).

In 2022, the non-residential sector was responsible for 44.6% of diverted waste^{Footnote 3}   and 59.8% of disposed solid waste. From 2002 to 2022, the amount of waste diverted from non-residential sources increased by 14.5% (or 0.6 million tonnes), while the amount of solid waste disposed from the non-residential sector increased by 1.8% (or 0.3 million tonnes).

In Canada, the responsibility for managing and reducing waste is shared among federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments. Municipalities and private waste management firms manage the collection, diversion and disposal of residential and non-residential solid waste. Provincial and territorial authorities establish waste reduction policies and programs, approve and monitor waste management facilities and operations. The federal government controls the international and interprovincial movement of hazardous recyclables and waste, as well as identifies approaches and best practices to reduce pollutant releases and greenhouse gas emissions from the waste management sector.

Solid waste diversion and disposal per person

Key results

• Between 2002 and 2022,
  • total solid waste diversion per person increased by 20% from 212 to 254 kilograms (kg)
  • solid waste disposal per person decreased by 11% from 768 to 684 kg
• Between 2014 and 2022^{Footnote 4}  , solid waste disposal per person decreased by over 2% from 699 to 684 kg

Solid waste diversion and disposal per person, Canada, 2002 to 2022

How this indicator was calculated

Note: For 2018, 2020 and 2022 electronic and tire waste was assigned to the "unknown sources" category since it could not be attributed to either residential or non-residential sources.
Source: Statistics Canada (2021) Table 38‑10‑0033-01. Archived - Materials diverted, by source, inactive. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 17-10-0005-01. Population estimates on July 1st, by age and gender. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 38-10-0032-01. Disposal of waste, by source. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 38-10-0138-01. Waste materials diverted, by type and by source.

Waste diversion per person from residential sources increased steadily between 2002 and 2014 but dropped slightly in 2016.^{Footnote 3}   Overall from 2002 to 2022, waste diversion per person from residential sources increased by 44% (or 39 kg). Waste diversion per person from non-residential sources fluctuated over this same period. Between 2002 and 2022, waste diversion per person from non-residential sources decreased by 8% (or 10 kg).

From 2002 to 2022, waste disposal per person from residential sources increased from 269 to 275 kg (or 2%) while disposal per person from non-residential sources declined from 499 to 409 kg (or 18%).

Solid waste diversion and disposal per person by jurisdiction

Key results

• In 2022, solid waste diversion per person and solid waste disposal per person varied widely across Canada
  • total waste diversion was lowest in Newfoundland and Labrador at 88 kg per person and highest in British Columbia at 331 kg per person
  • total waste disposal was lowest in Nova Scotia at 403 kg per person and highest in Alberta at 880 kg per person

Solid waste diversion and disposal per person, by jurisdiction, Canada, 2022

How this indicator was calculated

Note: TER = Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. ^[A] Solid waste diversion and disposal data was suppressed due to confidentiality for Prince Edward Island and the territories (Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut). Electronic and tire waste was assigned to the "unknown sources" category since it could not be attributed to either residential or non-residential sources. Totals may not add up due to suppressed values to maintain confidentiality.
Source: Statistics Canada (2024) Table 17-10-0005-01. Population estimates on July 1st, by age and gender. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 38-10-0032-01. Disposal of waste, by source. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 38-10-0138-01. Waste materials diverted, by type and by source.

In 2022, national solid waste diversion was 254 kg per person. Nova Scotia, Quebec and British Columbia all diverted more waste per person than the national average. New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta diverted between 133 kg per person and 226 kg per person. Newfoundland and Labrador diverted less than 100 kg of solid waste per person.

New Brunswick, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia diverted more solid waste from non-residential sources than from residential sources. In Manitoba, residential sources and non-residential sources diverted a similar amount of solid waste. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan, more waste was diverted from residential sources than non-residential sources.

In 2022, national solid waste disposal was 684 kg per person. Nova Scotia and British Columbia disposed less than 550 kg of solid waste per person. Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta all disposed 700 kg or more of waste per person in 2022.

Although Alberta had the highest total waste disposal per person (880 kg) in 2022, most of this waste came from non-residential sources (598 kg per person). Quebec had the highest waste disposal per person from residential sources (378 kg). Quebec was the only jurisdiction where more waste per person was disposed from residential sources than from non-residential sources. In all other jurisdictions, more waste was disposed from non-residential sources than residential sources.

Solid waste diversion rate

Key results

• Between 2002 and 2022,^{Footnote 3}  the share of solid waste being diverted
  • from all sources increased from 21.6% to 27.1%
  • from residential sources increased from 24.8% to 31.7%
  • from non-residential sources increased from 19.8% to 21.7%

Solid waste diversion rate by source, Canada, 2002 to 2022

How this indicator was calculated

Note: For 2018, 2020 and 2022 electronic and tire waste could not be attributed to either residential or non-residential sources; however, it remains included in the "All sources" category and explains the slight increase in this category compared to the "Residential sources" and "Non-residential sources" categories, which are showing a decrease.
Source: Statistics Canada (2021) Table 38‑10‑0033-01. Archived - Materials diverted, by source, inactive. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 38-10-0032-01. Disposal of waste, by source. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 38-10-0138-01. Waste materials diverted, by type and by source.

Solid waste diversion rate by jurisdiction

Key results

• Between 2002 and 2022, the share of solid waste being diverted increased in all jurisdictions where data are available

Solid waste diversion rate from all sources by jurisdiction, Canada, 2002 and 2022

How this indicator was calculated

Note: TER = Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. ^[A] In 2002 and 2022, solid waste diversion and disposal data were not available for Prince Edward Island and the territories (Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut).
Source: Statistics Canada (2021) Table 38‑10‑0033-01. Archived - Materials diverted, by source, inactive. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 38-10-0032-01. Disposal of waste, by source. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 38-10-0138-01. Waste materials diverted, by type and by source.

Between 2002 and 2022, Nova Scotia had the largest increase in solid waste diversion, rising from 33% to 43%. 

In 2022, solid waste diversion rates varied across Canada from 11% in Newfoundland and Labrador to 43% in Nova Scotia. Nationally, 27% of solid waste was diverted. Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta diverted less than 20% of solid waste. New Brunswick and Ontario each diverted around 25% of solid waste, while Nova Scotia, Quebec and British Columbia diverted more than 30% of solid waste.

Comparatively, in 2002, solid waste diversion rates ranged from 7% in Newfoundland and Labrador to 33% in Nova Scotia. Nationally, 22% of solid waste was diverted. Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta diverted less than 20% of solid waste. New Brunswick and Quebec diverted almost 25% of solid waste, while Nova Scotia and British Columbia diverted more than 30% of solid waste.

In 2002 and 2022, solid waste diversion and disposal data were not available for Prince Edward Island and the territories (Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut). 

Solid waste diversion by type of material

Key results

• In 2022, paper and organic materials accounted for 67% of total solid waste diverted (3.6 and 3.1 million tonnes, respectively)

Solid waste diversion by type of material, Canada, 2002 to 2022

How this indicator was calculated

Note: "Paper" may include newsprint, cardboard and boxboard and mixed paper. "Organic materials" may include leaf and yard waste, agricultural crop residues, wood waste, food waste and source separated organics, paper and paperboard products and other organic materials. "Metals" may include ferrous metals, copper and aluminum and mixed metals. "Other materials" includes non-hazardous materials that were reported as diverted but were not included in any of the specified categories. "Other materials" may include electronics, tires, gable top and aseptic containers, textiles and other unclassified materials. "Construction, renovation and demolition materials" may include materials such as brick, painted wood, drywall, metals, cardboard, doors, windows and wiring.
Source: Statistics Canada (2021) Table 38-10-0034-01. Archived - Materials diverted, by type, inactive. Statistics Canada (2024) Table 38-10-0138-01. Waste materials diverted, by type and by source.

From 2002 to 2022, diversion of all materials increased. Although diversion of plastics increased by 154% between 2002 (144 kt) and 2022 (367 kt), there was no significant change from 2020 (368 kt) to 2022. Over 3 million tonnes of plastic are thrown away by Canadians each year but only 9% get diverted.^{Footnote 5}   Over the same 2002 to 2022 period, diversion of organic materials increased by 135% (1 311 kt in 2002 to 3 074 kt in 2022), the second largest increase in diversion after plastics. 

About the indicators

What the indicators measure

These indicators report on the total quantity and the quantity per person of non-hazardous solid waste diverted and disposed by municipal governments and businesses in the waste management industry. The waste diversion rate by source (residential and non-residential) and the types of materials diverted are also reported.

Why these indicators are important

Tracking trends in solid waste diversion and disposal helps us understand how waste management and recycling programs are working. It also provides a measure of how efficiently Canadians use their resources, which have implications for the natural environment. For example, when we reuse, recycle or compost materials we generally reduce overall energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from their production and use.^{Footnote 6} 

The Government of Canada is working with all levels of government, industry, non-government organizations, researchers and the public to take action on waste and pollution. A Canada-wide Action Plan on Zero Plastic Waste has been adopted to help better prevent, reduce, reuse, recover, capture and clean up plastic waste and pollution in Canada. The federal government is also working to support and expand the circular economy to create new economic opportunities and a more sustainable and resilient economy.

Related initiatives

These indicators support the measurement of progress towards the following 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles.

In addition, the indicators contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They are linked to Goal 12, Responsible consumption and production and Target 12.5, "By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse." 

Related indicators

The Greenhouse gas emissions indicators report trends in total anthropogenic (human-made) GHG emissions at the national level, per person and per unit gross domestic product, by province and territory and by economic sector, waste being one.

The Air pollutant emissions indicators track emissions from human activities of 6 key air pollutants: sulphur oxides (SO_X), nitrogen oxides (NO_X), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia (NH₃), carbon monoxide (CO) and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). Black carbon, which is a component of PM_2.5, is also reported. For each air pollutant, data are provided at the national, provincial/territorial and facility level and by major source, waste being one.

The Emissions of harmful substances to air indicators track human-related emissions to air of 3 toxic substances, namely mercury, lead and cadmium, and their compounds. For each substance, data are provided at the national, provincial/territorial and facility level and by source. Global emissions to air are also provided for mercury. 

The Releases of harmful substances to water indicators track human-related releases to water of 3 toxic substances, namely mercury, lead and cadmium, and their compounds. For each substance, data are provided at the national, provincial/territorial and facility level and by source.

The Plastic particles in the Northern Fulmar indicator provides information on the mass of plastic found in the Northern Fulmars' stomach in birds collected in Canada. 

Data sources and methods

Data sources

The data used for the Solid waste diversion and disposal indicators comes from a Statistics Canada survey, carried out biennially. The most recent survey was conducted in 2022 and the results were released in 2024.

• Biennial Waste Management Survey

Population data also come from Statistics Canada. Data were retrieved on July 15, 2024.

• Statistics Canada (2024) Table 17-10-005-01. Population estimates on July 1, by age and gender

Methods

The indicators represent the weight of all types of material diverted and disposed from residential and non-residential sources. The diversion rate is the percentage of waste diverted relative to the total waste disposed and diverted as reported to the waste management survey.

Waste diverted and disposed per person was calculated by dividing the total quantity of diverted or disposed waste by a jurisdiction's population estimate.

Recent changes

Jurisdictional comparisons for 2018, 2020 and 2022 were included to compare diversion rates and the amount of waste disposed and diverted per person across Canada.

For the results of the 2022 waste survey, Statistics Canada created a new data table, Table 38-10-0138-01. Waste materials diverted, by type and by source to capture the 2018, 2020 and 2022 solid waste diversion results. This data table replaces 2 separate data tables that were used for the 2002 to 2016 diversion results, Table 38-10-0034-01. Archived - Materials diverted, by type, inactive and Table 38‑10‑0033-01. Archived - Materials diverted, by source, inactive. For the 2018, 2020 and 2022 results, Statistics Canada did not provide residential source and non-residential source totals because electronic and tire source data were unavailable.

Caveats and limitations

The survey values were imputed when values were missing or when the respondent did not complete a questionnaire even after extensive follow-up.

The indicator excludes material that bypasses the waste management stream captured by the survey. This includes materials not processed in a material recycling facility, such as material recycled directly by retailers, or the reuse of bottles handled through a bottle-return program.

The data are for waste collected, and total waste generated is not tracked. For example, littering, dumping or storing waste is not accounted for.

Municipal and business waste collection operations must meet Statistics Canada's reporting thresholds in order to be covered by the municipal and business waste management surveys. As such, very small waste collection operations may not be covered.

Some data values may not be available for specific reference periods. In other circumstances, Statistics Canada suppresses data values to meet confidentiality requirements under the Statistics Act.

Resources

References

Babooram A and Wang J (2007) Recycling in Canada (Archived content). Statistics Canada. Retrieved on July 15, 2024.

Statistics Canada (2012) Human Activity and the Environment. Waste management in Canada (Archived content). Retrieved on July 15, 2024.

Statistics Canada (2022) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Canada 2022 Version 1.0. Retrieved on July 15, 2024.

Statistics Canada (2024) Solid waste and hazardous substances. Retrieved on July 15, 2024.

Related information

Waste

Municipal solid waste management