How Canadians Are Focusing on Reducing the Amount of Organic Waste Generated

The good news is Canada is taking the initiative to manage organic waste. But Canada needs to set up more organics management infrastructure to reach its goals. These include facilities for yard waste removal.

This is according to a report by the Environmental Research and Education Foundation of Canada. EREF-Canada is an organization that focuses on solid waste research.

Dealing with waste has become a growing issue throughout the country, down to the local level. Local governments have initiated aggressive policies and programs to curb organic waste.

However, the information needed to facilitate these programs are still incomplete. There are still irregularities in the data. What the EREF-Canada study did is address these inconsistencies.

Collecting Data on Canada’s Organic Waste

The report defines organic waste materials as items like food scraps, garden, and yard waste. Agricultural waste such as manure and sewage products are also included.

There was a focus on local organic waste diversion, in industrial, residential, and commercial settings. For example, yard waste disposal in Toronto residences, food waste in Vancouver industries, or biosolids from Winnipeg sewage.

While building the report, researchers of EREF-Canada collected data from 13 provinces and territories. The purpose of the study is to:

1. Get a clearer picture of local organic waste policies

2. Find out how available waste programs are to Canadians

3. Find out the current capacity of waste processing facilities

The research did not include organic waste for backyard composting. It also did not include waste stabilization procedures like fermentation, lime stabilization, and pasteurization.

Challenges to Waste Management Goals

According to the 128-page report, many of the provinces can deal with basic organics, like yard waste. These include facilities for yard waste removal in Toronto, Vancouver, and other areas. Overall, Canada can process 2.66 million tons of basic degradable materials.

The most common way of managing organic matter is through composting facilities. In 2019, Canada processed 4.83 million tonnes of organics, with 72 percent going through composting facilities.

Individual facilities can handle between 50 to 150,000 tonnes. On average, a compost facility has a capacity of 10,611 tonnes. Throughout the country, there are 387 separate facilities that handle organic and yard waste removal. Up to 5.74 million tonnes of organic material go through these facilities per year.

What provinces don’t have are facilities that can address more complicated organics. Many that do are already at capacity or nearing capacity, particularly in-vessel and anaerobic digestion facilities.

Anaerobic digestion facilities break down organic waste without the use of oxygen. These facilities processed 1.35 million tonnes of waste in 2019. If the population rises in the future, the current number of facilities is not enough.

There is already an estimated shortage of 1,000,000 tonnes in total capacity. The amount of food waste and yard debris generated each year is still much higher. Toronto yard waste facilities and other Canadian facilities need additional upgrades to keep up with the waste.

Another huge challenge is that most of it is complex food waste. This type of waste needs advanced infrastructure, such as in-vessel and anaerobic digestion systems.

Not Everything Is Dire

While there are shortfalls, the outlook for organics management infrastructure in Canada is optimistic. The 1990s saw the first municipal leaf and yard waste programs. By 2019, 328 composting facilities were active in Canada. Fifty-nine anaerobic digestion plants are currently up and running as well.

Programs to implement organic waste management are widely available. To date, there’s a residential organic waste management program serving 91 percent of Canadians.

Curbside programs are also widespread. Eighty-three percent of Canadians can access curbside leaf and yard waste programs in their communities. Seventy-one percent also have curbside source-separated organic programs.

Each Province Has a Goal

The EREF-Canada report says that overall, Canadians would like to improve how organic waste is managed in their locales. Ten provinces that are part of the study have indicated that diversion from disposal is a primary goal. Waste reduction is also deemed important, with seven provinces including it as a primary goal.Each province has a different approach to achieving these goals:

• By 2025, Ontario is looking to reduce organic waste by 70 percent.
• Nova Scotia, on the other hand, is aiming for 50 percent waste diversion. It also plans to limit waste disposal to 300 kilograms per person per year.
• Quebec aims 70 percent of all organics recycled or recovered by 2030. It also plans to limit waste disposal to just 525 kilograms per capita.
• British Columbia is looking to divert 95 percent of organics coming from municipal, industrial, and agricultural sources.

All Must Take Part

What the EREF-Canada report is suggesting is that as these goals are implemented, communities need more infrastructure. The country needs more organics management facilities and programs as provinces ramp up their goals.

The report indicates that this is feasible. Many Canadians already have access to existing waste management and collection programs. The country can already ramp up its organic waste collection.

But the EREF-Canada researchers also stress the fact that consistency is important. Communities must continuously use these programs and facilities.

Most Canadian local governments have already put programs and policies in place. There’s a clear indication of progress. But its advancement needs continuous support, not only from policymakers but also the communities and individuals.

Manage Your Organic Waste With Professional Assistance

Those who intend to take part in this effort can do so in their own personal way. If you’re in Toronto, yard waste shouldn’t be a problem. Call 1-800-Rid-Of-It, and we’ll help you remove your yard waste in an organized and professional manner.