Plastic Waste In Canada: A Startling Look At Consumption

Canadians throw away a lot of plastic. In fact, less than 10% of plastic used in Canada is recycled, with 86% of plastic waste ending up in landfill. Each Canadian throws away about half a kilogram of packaging every day, and the country uses almost 15 billion plastic bags and 57 million straws annually. By 2030, Canadians will throw away an estimated $11 billion worth of plastic materials each year.

Canadians throw away an estimated $11 billion worth of plastic materials each year by 2030

Plastic waste is a significant issue in Canada, with a large proportion of plastics being used for single-use products or packaging. In fact, more than one-third of plastics in Canada are created for single-use items, and about 86% of plastic waste ends up in landfills. This waste comes from a variety of sources, including plastic bags, food containers, food wrappers, and plastic bottles. Each Canadian throws away about half a kilogram of packaging each day, contributing to the overall waste problem.

The recycling rate for plastic in Canada is low, with less than 10% of plastic being recycled domestically. While there have been efforts to increase recycling, such as the 2018 peak in recycled plastic, it still only represented a small fraction of the total amount of plastic used in Canada. Additionally, a portion of Canada's plastic waste is shipped outside of North America for "recycling", but this often results in the waste polluting other countries rather than being properly recycled.

The Canadian government has recognised the severity of the issue and is taking steps to address it. In 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced additional measures to reduce plastic waste, support innovation, and promote the use of affordable and safe alternatives. This includes banning harmful single-use plastics as early as 2021 and working with provinces and territories to introduce standards and targets for companies that manufacture plastic products.

By taking action to reduce plastic waste, Canada can not only protect its environment and wildlife but also its economy. The health of Canada's oceans is vital to the economic, cultural, and social well-being of its coastal communities, and plastic pollution wastes valuable resources and energy, resulting in a significant loss in value.

86% of Canada's plastic waste ends up in landfill

Canadians throw away over 3 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. This represents up to $8 billion per year in lost value and wastes valuable resources and energy.

A large proportion of this waste comes from packaging, with each Canadian throwing away about half a kilogram of packaging every day. Half of Canadian cities' solid waste by volume and a third by weight comes from packaging.

In addition, more than one-third of Canada's plastics are created for single-use products or packaging. This includes plastic bags, straws, cutlery, plates, stir sticks, food containers, food wrappers, and plastic bottles.

As a result, 86% of Canada's plastic waste ends up in landfill, while only 8% is recycled. The rest is burned in incinerators, contributing to climate change and air pollution, or ends up in the environment as litter.

To address this issue, the Canadian government has committed to banning harmful single-use plastics as early as 2021 and working with provinces and territories to introduce standards and targets for companies that manufacture plastic products or sell items with plastic packaging.

Canada ships a portion of its plastic waste outside of North America to be processed for 'recycling'

Canadians throw away over 3 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, which represents up to $8 billion per year in lost value. This is predicted to rise to $11 billion per year by 2030. Less than 10% of plastic used in Canada is recycled, with 86% ending up in landfill. The rest is burned in incinerators, contributing to climate change and air pollution, or ends up in the environment as litter.

Canada ships 12% of its plastic waste outside of North America to be processed for "recycling". However, this often results in waste polluting other countries, rather than being properly recycled. Most of this waste is sent to countries in Southeast Asia, where it is burned or re-enters the environment.

In 2018, 10% of plastic in products discarded in Canada was sorted and baled. Of this amount, 16 kt were exported internationally, 365 kt were recycled into pellets and flakes within Canada, and 76 kt became residual plastic waste sent for disposal by final processors.

Canadians use almost 15 billion plastic bags every year

Canadians throw away over 3 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, with less than 10% of plastic recycled. In fact, 86% of Canada's plastic waste ends up in landfill, while 8% is recycled and the rest is burned in incinerators, contributing to climate change and air pollution.

Much of this waste comes from packaging, with each Canadian throwing away about half a kilogram of packaging every day. Half of Canadian cities' solid waste by volume and a third by weight comes from packaging.

A large proportion of this plastic waste is from single-use products and packaging, with over one-third of plastics in Canada falling into this category. This includes plastic bags, straws, cutlery, plates, stir sticks, food containers, food wrappers and plastic bottles. In fact, Canadians use almost 15 billion plastic bags every year and close to 57 million straws every day.

In 2019, the Canadian government announced that it would be taking additional steps to reduce Canada's plastic waste, including banning harmful single-use plastics as early as 2021.

Canada's plastic waste contributes to climate change and air pollution

Canada's plastic waste is a significant contributor to climate change and air pollution. Canadians throw away over 3 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, with less than 10% of plastic being recycled in the country. This waste often ends up in landfills, where it releases harmful greenhouse gases as it decomposes, contributing to global warming.

A large portion of Canada's plastic waste comes from single-use products and packaging, with an estimated 15 billion plastic bags and 57 million straws being used annually. This waste is not only an environmental concern but also an economic one, with an estimated $8 billion in lost value and wasted resources and energy.

While some efforts have been made to reduce plastic waste, such as banning harmful single-use plastics and promoting alternatives, much of Canada's plastic waste is still shipped outside of North America for "recycling". However, this often results in the waste polluting other countries rather than being properly recycled.

The burning of plastic waste in incinerators, both domestically and abroad, contributes to air pollution and the release of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. Furthermore, plastic waste that ends up in the environment as litter or in the oceans can have detrimental effects on marine life and ecosystems, further exacerbating the impacts of climate change.

Overall, Canada's plastic waste is a significant contributor to climate change and air pollution, and addressing this issue is crucial for the country's environmental and economic well-being.

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