Waste

Waste management is the collection, transport, processing or disposal of waste materials, usually produced by human activity, in an effort to reduce their effect on human health and the environment.

Canadians generate significant waste. Statistics Canada reports that in 2010 Canadians generated over 936 kilograms of waste per person. Of this total, 729 kg went to landfills. For the past decade, waste diversion has stagnated while waste disposal has been on the rise in Canada.

Environment ministers are committed to taking action within their jurisdictions and through CCME to continuously improve Canada’s record on reducing and recycling waste. Ministers envision Canada as a world leader in waste management.

CCME’s current priorities in support of that vision are:

• Developing tools and best practices to achieve substantial reductions in waste disposed from the institutional, commercial and industrial (ICI) sectors, the construction, renovation and demolition (CRD) sector, and organic waste
• Identifying indicators and exploring options for assessing progress on improving Canada’s record on reducing and recycling waste
• Collaborating with business, government, municipal and community partners
• Continuing progress on the Canada-wide Action Plan for Extended Producer Responsibility (CAP-EPR), including working with stakeholders to achieve greater consistency on key elements of EPR programs.

The delivery of waste activities is coordinated by CCME's Waste Management Task Group  (WMTG).

CCME resources on waste can be found here.