Municipal solid waste: statistics and trends
The Government of Canada collects data from municipalities and the waste management industry to track progress in reducing and better managing Canada’s municipal solid waste.
Statistics Canada's Waste Management Surveys (Surveys): Statistics Canada conducts surveys of municipalities and companies that manage municipal solid waste. Compiled data tracks the amount of waste disposed and diverted across Canada.
Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI): The CESI solid waste diversion and disposal indicator tracks progress toward the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy target of reducing the amount of waste Canadians dispose of by 30% by 2030.
National Waste Characterization Report (NWCR): This report is based on municipal and provincial waste audits and tracks:
- the composition of Canada’s residual municipal solid waste;
- disposal and diversion quantities for selected waste materials;
- the composition of key material categories, including food, paper and plastics; and
- changes in the composition of residual municipal solid waste over time.
The previous version of the NWCR is also available.