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WASTE:
Municipal Waste
Municipal
waste contributes
to several environmental
problems including
habitat destruction,
surface and groundwater
pollution and
other forms of
air, soil and
 water
contamination.
Depending on
the disposal
method, there
may be other
negative consequences,
such as the creation
of toxic substances
through incineration.
Landfills also
emit methane
(which contributes
to global warming)
and other gases.
Over
90% of Canada’s
municipal waste
goes to landfill
sites, with a
small percentage
incinerated.
The result is
problems such
as those faced
by metropolitan
Toronto, which
is experiencing
difficulty finding
a viable landfill
location for
its garbage.
Although in theory
there is plenty
of room in Canada
for landfill
sites, few locations
are without vocal
opposition from
local communities
and residents.
Municipal
waste is also
very expensive.
Canadians spend
billions annually
to collect, transport
and dispose of
municipal waste.
Canada’s
OECD Ranking
Canada ranks
18th out of 29
OECD nations
in terms of municipal
waste per person.
Again Canada
is firmly in
the bottom half
of the industrialized
nations. Canadians
produced 490
kg of municipal
waste per person
in 1997, slightly
below the OECD
average of 500
kg.
Canada
also ranks 18th
out of 29 OECD
nations in total
municipal waste
generated.
Trend
There is good
news in the fact
that between
1980 and 1997,
municipal waste
per capita in
Canada declined
by 3.9%. However
the decrease
in municipal
waste per capita
has been more
than offset by
the increase
in population
during this period.
Total municipal
waste generated
in Canada rose
by 17% between
1980 and 1997.
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