Waste in Newfoundland and Labrador
Image source: Government of Canada, 2017
Overview of waste in Newfoundland and Labrador
Residential vs. Non-Residential waste in Newfoundland and Labrador, 2020
In 2020, 161,147 tonnes of waste (44.1%) was generated by residential sources in N.F.L., while 204,063 tonnes of waste (55.9%) was generated by non-residential sources. In total, 365,210 tonnes of municipal solid waste was generated in N.F.L. 2020 (Statistics Canada, 2024).
Waste production in Newfoundland and Labrador, 2012-2022
In Newfoundland and Labrador, there is a decrease by 5.2 % in non-residential waste from 215,080 tonnes in 2018 to 204,063 tonnes in 2020. Then, it slightly increased by 0.4 % to 204,906 tonnes in 2022.
The residential waste on the other hand, increased by 1.6 % from 158,588 tonnes in 2018 to 161,147 tonnes in 2020. Then, it decreased by 1.1 % to 159,406 tonnes in 2022. Notably, data for residential and non-residential waste in Newfoundland and Labrador for 2012-2016 is unavailable (Statistics Canada, 2024).
Waste per capita in Newfoundland and Labrador, 2012-2022
With a population of 526,046 the waste per capita of residential waste in Newfoundland and Labrador was 0.30 tonnes in 2022. In 2018, the waste per capita was 0.30 and it slightly increased by 3.3 % to 0.31 in 2020, and then it reversed back to 0.30 tonnes in 2022.
For non-residential waste, the waste per capita in Newfoundland and Labrador was 0.39 tonnes. It decreased by 4.9 % from 0.41 in 2018 to 0.39 in 2020 and remained stable until 2022 (Statistics Canada, 2024).
Composition of residential waste in Newfoundland and Labrador, 2022
For residential waste in Newfoundland and Labrador, the majority of documented waste were paper fibers at 90.9% reflecting 14,153 tonnes of waste, followed by 9.1% plastic waste reflecting 1,418 tonnes of waste (Statistics Canada, 2024).
Composition of non-residential waste in Newfoundland and Labrador, 2022
For non-residential waste in Newfoundland and Labrador, 12,330 tonnes (98.5%) of the documented waste consisted of paper fiber and only 186 tonnes (1.5%) consisted of plastic waste (Statistics Canada, 2024).
Solid waste assets in Newfoundland and Labrador, 2022
In Newfoundland and Labrador, there are 287 solid waste assets. Specifically, there are 145 closed sites (inactive engineered landfills and dumps) (50.5%), 62 active dump sites (21.6%), 52 transfer station assets (18.1%), 14 materials recovery facilities (4.9%), and 14 other solid waste assets (4.9%) (Statistics Canada, 2022).
References
Government of Canada. (2024). Solid waste diversion and disposal. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/solid-waste-diversion-disposal.html
Statistics Canada. (2024). Table 38-10-0138-01 Waste materials diverted, by type and by source DOI: https://doi.org/10.25318/3810013801-eng
Statistics Canada. (2024). Table 17-10-0009-01 Population estimates, quarterly. DOI:https://doi.org/10.25318/1710000901-eng
Statistics Canada. (2024). Table 38-10-0032-01 Disposal of waste, by source DOI: https://doi.org/10.25318/3810003201-eng
Statistics Canada. (2022). Table 34-10-0236-01 Inventory of publicly owned solid waste assets, Infrastructure Canada DOI: https://doi.org/10.25318/3410023601-eng
Government of Canada. (2017). Provincial and territorial symbols. Retrieved August 15, 2024, from https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/provincial-territorial-symbols-canada.html
Notes
”Misc.” data refers to miscellaneous data, and indicates any form of waste adding up to less than 3.0% individually, added together in one category for better overview.