Canada's waste problem and finding a fix

Summary

The video highlights the growing problem of waste in Canada, from over-packaged products to landfills overflowing with garbage. It emphasizes the hidden dangers of waste, like toxic emissions and ghost nets polluting the oceans. While Canada excels in waste collection, the country remains one of the largest waste producers globally. Issues like plastic bags scattered across landscapes, a devastating landfill fire in 2014, and the impact of ocean dumping are examined. Efforts to raise awareness through community involvement and youth education are seen as key steps in combating this environmental crisis.

Takeaways

• 😀 Canada generates 25 million tons of municipal waste annually, equating to 700 kilograms per person per year.
• 😀 Despite being among the cleanest countries in terms of waste collection, Canada is one of the largest waste producers globally.
• 😀 Canada produces more waste per person than other similarly advanced economies, including the U.S.
• 😀 There is a direct correlation between waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.
• 😀 In 2009, a garbage strike in Toronto and the closure of the U.S. border highlighted Canada's waste management challenges.
• 😀 Canada exports a significant portion of its waste (nearly a third of Ontario's waste) to the U.S. for processing.
• 😀 In some regions like the Arctic, waste management is hindered by the difficulty of getting goods and waste out of remote areas.
• 😀 The Callow Heed landfill in the Arctic caught fire in 2014, burning for four months and becoming one of the worst such incidents in the Americas.
• 😀 Efforts are being made to reduce organic waste by encouraging composting, as it contributes to methane emissions when buried in landfills.
• 😀 Ghost nets, discarded fishing nets, pose a major environmental threat off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, taking up to 600 years to degrade and harming marine life.

Q & A

What is one of the main reasons garbage ends up in landfills in Canada?

A significant amount of products are heavily packaged, which contributes to the increasing waste that ends up in landfills.

How does Canada compare to other countries in terms of waste production?

Canada produces more waste per person than most other advanced economies, including the U.S., according to comparisons published in 2012.

What is the connection between garbage and greenhouse gas emissions in Canada?

The large amount of waste produced in Canada correlates with high greenhouse gas emissions. The waste reduction and emission reduction numbers tend to rise and fall together.

What happened during the 2009 garbage strike in Toronto?

During the garbage strike, Torontonians were forced to confront the issue of waste management as garbage piled up, highlighting the scale of the waste problem.

What is the situation with waste export from Ontario to the U.S.?

A significant portion of Ontario's waste, nearly a third, is sent to the U.S. for processing, which is often cheaper than handling it domestically.

What are the challenges of waste management in Northern Canada?

In Northern Canada, there is limited recycling infrastructure, only one landfill, and the high costs of transporting goods and waste make proper disposal and recycling difficult.

What happened in 2014 at the landfill in Callowheed, Northern Canada?

In 2014, the landfill in Callowheed caught fire spontaneously and burned for four months, which was declared the worst landfill fire in both North and South America.

What environmental concerns are associated with the discarded fishing nets off Newfoundland’s coast?

Discarded fishing nets, known as 'ghost nets,' are a major environmental concern because the plastic can take up to 600 years to break down, while continuing to trap marine life.

How do local communities in Newfoundland perceive the issue of ocean garbage?

Many locals in Newfoundland believe that once the garbage enters the water, it's out of sight and out of mind, showing a lack of awareness of the long-term environmental impact.

What is one of the main educational efforts being made to address ocean dumping?

Educating local communities and the next generation about the impact of ocean dumping is a key effort, as seen in the project led by Dan Porter, which aims to raise awareness among the public, including students like Caitlin Healy.