Plastics in Canada: From production to recycling, 2021

Release date: April 22, 2025
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Infographic: Plastics in Canada: From production to recycling, 2021
Description: Plastics in Canada: From production to recycling, 2021

Statistics Canada’s Physical Flow Account for Plastic Material (PFAPM) measures the flow of plastic in products through the Canadian economy, from production to recycling and waste.

The life cycle of plastic

  • Produced
  • In use
  • Collected
  • Leaked
  • Processed
  • Residuals
  • Recycled
  • Landfilled or incinerated

Production

In 2021, 7,112 kilotonnes of plastic were produced for Canadian consumption.

Plastic in packaging, construction materials, and vehicles accounted for nearly two-thirds of this plastic.

Distribution of plastic produced, by type of product Table summary
This table displays the results of Distribution of plastic produced, by type of product , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
  Percentage
Packaging 28.0
Construction materials 22.3
Vehicles 14.6
Electrical and electronic equipment 9.2
Textiles 4.3
Other products 21.6

Plastic waste

Plastic products that have reached their end of life are discarded as waste, most of which is collected for waste management and recycling.

In 2021, Canadians discarded 4,986 kilotonnes of plastic. Of this amount, 99.2% was collected by waste and recycling management systems.

Origin of plastic waste, by type of product Table summary
This table displays the results of Origin of plastic waste, by type of product , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
  Percentage
Packaging 40.2
Vehicles 16.3
Electrical and electronic equipment 8.9
Textiles 5.6
Construction materials 3.4
Other products 25.6

Recycling

Plastic collected for recycling is sent to primary processing facilities, where it is sorted and baled. Bales are sent to final recycling facilities where they are converted into recycled pellets and flakes, ready for use in new products.

In 2021, Canadian recyclers converted 365 kilotonnes of baled plastic into recycled plastic resins, ready for use by manufacturers.

Plastic recovered from packaging—most of which (70.0%) came from bottles—accounted for 87.3% of recycled plastic pellets and flakes.

Disposal

Plastic waste that is not recycled is permanently disposed of. Disposed plastic is either sent to landfill, incinerated, gasified, or exported.

In 2021, 120 kilograms of plastic were disposed of per capita. This includes plastic waste from all streams (residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, construction and demolition).

Source: Statistics Canada, Physical Flow Account for Plastic Material, 2021.

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Note of appreciation

Canada owes the success of its statistical system to a long-standing partnership between Statistics Canada, the citizens of Canada, its businesses, governments and other institutions. Accurate and timely statistical information could not be produced without their continued co-operation and goodwill.

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2025

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

Ottawa

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