Waste management industry: Business and government sectors
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The waste management industry in Canada handled just over 34 million tonnes of waste in 2008. This amount translates into about 1,031 kilograms of waste per Canadian.
Of this total, the quantity of waste sent to public and private waste disposal facilities was 25.9 million tonnes, practically unchanged since 2006.
The remaining 8.5 million tonnes was sent for recycling or composting, up 9.7% from 2006.
About one-third of waste for disposal came from residential sources, while the other two-thirds came from non-residential sources.
The amount of residential waste disposal fell by 4.0% from 2006 to 8.5 million tonnes in 2008. Meanwhile, the amount of non-residential waste rose by 1.8% to 17.3 million tonnes.
Quantity of waste sent for disposal fell in most provinces
Between 2006 and 2008, the quantity of waste sent for disposal increased in three provinces: Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Saskatchewan recorded the biggest increase in the amount of waste disposed, with an 8.3% change.
On the other hand, New Brunswick had the biggest decrease (-6.3%).
On a per capita basis, Alberta sent the most waste for disposal in 2008, the equivalent of just over 1.1 tonnes per person. Conversely, Nova Scotia sent 378 kilograms per person for disposal.
The high per capita disposal rates in Alberta were largely the result of non-residential waste disposal. In terms of residential waste, per capita disposal in Alberta was close to the national average.
Note to readers
This release is based on the results of the biennial report on the Canadian waste management industry entitled Waste Management Industry Survey: Business and Government Sectors 2008.
This analysis, based on data from the Waste Management Industry Survey, examines the quantities of waste disposed of in landfills and incinerators managed by governments and waste management firms, as well as the amount of waste diverted.
It also includes information on the preparation of materials for recycling or composting and statistics on the financial and employment characteristics of local governments and firms that provided waste management services.
Waste diversion: Largest increase in electronics
Nationally, the quantity of materials diverted from disposal for recycling or composting increased by about 10% from 2006 to 2008.
Electronic waste recycling recorded the biggest increase (+115%). This was followed by plastic materials, which rose by 40%.
Local governments spending more on waste management
Local governments spent about $2.6 billion on waste management in 2008, up from $2.1 billion two years earlier.
Provincially, municipalities that spent more money per capita on waste management reported diverting greater amounts of waste per person.
Business sector operating revenues rose 13% to $5.8 billion between 2006 and 2008. Operating expenditures incurred by waste management firms increased 19% to $5.1 billion.
Just over 31,000 people were employed full-time in the waste management industry in both the government and business sectors in 2008.
Available on CANSIM: tables 153-0041 to 153-0045.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 1736 and 2009.
The publication Waste Management Industry Survey: Business and Government Sectors, 2008 (16F0023X, free), is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications, choose All subjects, then Environment.
A data table is also available from the Key resource module of our website under Summary tables.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact the information officer (613-951-0297; environ@statcan.gc.ca), Environment Accounts and Statistics Division.
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