Canada’s National Pollutant Release Inventory: 2020 data highlights

The National Pollutant Release Inventory’s (NPRI) data helps track pollution patterns and trends across Canada. Since 1993, it has collected data from facilities about pollutants they release to the air, water and land. The NPRI also collects data about the disposal and transfer of pollutants. Facilities that meet the reporting requirements must report each year.

2020 data at a glance

In 2020, 7,168 facilities reported to the NPRI. They reported approximately 4.98 million tonnes covering over 320 substances:

  • 2.81 million tonnes of pollutants were released directly to the environment (i.e., air, water and land)
  • 1.83 million tonnes were disposed to landfills, applied to land or injected underground, either on the facility site or off-site
  • 338,638 tonnes were transferred off the facility site for treatment prior to final disposal or for recycling and energy recovery
2020 data at a glance
Long description
Breakdown of the total quantities reported for 2020, by reporting category
Direct releases category Reported quantities (tonnes)
Air 2,658,887
Water 135,006
Land 16,431
Unspecified media (less than one tonne) 299
Total reported releases 2,810,623
Disposals and transfers category Reported quantities (tonnes)
On-site disposals 292,424
Off-site disposals 159,072
Treatment prior to disposal 47,940
Tailings 989,275
Waste rock 385,830
Transfers for off-site recycling 290,698
Total reported disposals and transfers 2,165,239

Total quantities reported to the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI): 4,975,862 tonnes

Source: NPRI Data as of January 24, 2022.

Between 2011 and 2020, reported releases to the environment decreased by 640,085 tonnes. Total disposals and transfers increased by 119,388 tonnes in that period.

 

Releases to air decreased by 651,000 tonnes

Most of the pollutants that were released directly to the environment were to the air. These substances totalled over 2.659 million tonnes of air pollutant emissions and included 159 different substances.

The pollutants most often released were particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and sulphur dioxide, which are associated with smog and acid rain. The Oil and Gas Extraction and the Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing sectors released the highest quantities of pollutants to the atmosphere.

Between 2011 and 2020, releases to air decreased by 650,630 tonnes (20%).

 

 

Releases to water increased by 3,000 tonnes

A total of approximately 135,006 tonnes were released to water in 2020, and they included 88 different substances.

The pollutants most often released to water were nitrate ion in solution, ammonia, and phosphorus, primarily from wastewater treatment facilities. The Water, Sewage and Other Systems sector reported the highest quantities of pollutant releases to water.

Between 2011 and 2020, releases to water increased by 3,333 tonnes (3%).

 

 

Releases to land increased by 7,000 tonnes

A total of 16,431 tonnes were released to land in 2020, and they included 69 different substances.

In 2020, a Gold and Silver Ore Mine released a significant amount of vanadium (6,952 tonnes). This substance was not released to land in 2011. Alone this one emission makes up 42% of the total land releases for 2020. The pollutant most often released to land was ethylene glycol, which is used as an antifreeze and de-icer for cars and aircraft. As such, the support activities for the Air Transportation sector released the highest quantities of pollutants to land.

Between 2011 and 2020, releases to land increased by 7,213 tonnes (78%). This is likely due to harsher weather conditions during winter, resulting in increased use of antifreezes and de-icers.

Other releases

In some instances, Canadian facilities report total releases of substances (i.e., releases where media is unspecified). This category applies where the total release quantity was less than one tonne.

Between 2011 and 2020, these types of releases decreased by 62 tonnes (17%).

Disposals and transfers for recycling

Of the 4.98 million tonnes reported in 2020, substance disposals (i.e., on-site and off-site) and transfers for recycling accounted for approximately 2.17 million tonnes, or 44%.

While the disposal of substances in waste rock (i.e., rock removed to reach ore) accounted for 385,830 tonnes of the 4.98 million tonnes reported to the NPRI, this figure increased by 370,219 tonnes (2,371%) between 2011 and 2020. This is mainly due to higher reported quantities of substances contained in waste rock from the mining and quarrying sector.

The disposal of substances in tailings (i.e., materials left when minerals are removed from ore) accounted for 989,275 tonnes of the 4.98 million tonnes reported to the NPRI. Between 2011 and 2020, disposals of substances in tailings has increased by 361,395 tonnes (58%). This was also due to higher reported quantities of substances in tailings from the mining and quarrying sector.

Other disposals (i.e., on-site and off-site) accounted for 292,424 tonnes and 159,072 tonnes of the 4.98 million tonnes reported, respectively. On-site disposals decreased by 76,391 tonnes (21%) between 2011 and 2020 and off-site disposals decreased by 215,792 tonnes (58%) over the same period.

Off-site transfers for recycling and treatment accounted for 338,638 tonnes of the 4.98 million tonnes reported in 2020. Between 2011 and 2020, this figure has decreased by 320,043 tonnes (49%).

Note: In some cases, adding quantities of a substance transferred off-site (e.g., to specialized waste management facilities) to quantities of that substance disposed of (e.g., by the waste management facility) can lead to double counting. This may occur when a substance is generated at one site, then transferred to another site for waste treatment prior to disposal, and subsequently transferred to a final disposal site. In this case, double- or triple-counting of the original off-site transfer may occur due to aggregating reports from multiple facilities involved in the waste management process of a single quantity of substance. For more information, please visit our Guide for using and interpreting National Pollutant Release Inventory data.

Map of facilities reporting to the NPRI for 2020, by industry sector

Map of facilities reporting to the NPRI for 2019, by industry sector
Long description
Map of facilities reporting to the NPRI for 2020, by industry sector
Province/Territory Electricity Manufacturing Mining and quarrying Oil and gas extraction Other sectors Total
Alberta 43
143
21
2272 286
2,765
British Columbia 22
100
33
276
213
644
Manitoba 13
59
10
15
71
168
New Brunswick 4
20
4
3
35
66
Newfoundland & Labrador 16
6
7
6
15
50
Northwest Territories 27
0
4
5
1
37
Nova Scotia 8
24
6
5
45
88
Nunavut 25
0
5
0
4
34
Ontario 51
715
105
53
687
1,611
Prince Edward Island 2
1
0
1
4
8
Québec 25
324
37
13
370
769
Saskatchewan 18
36
23
720
120
917
Yukon 8
0
2
0
1
11
Grand Total
262 1,428 257 3,369 1,852
7,168

This table shows a provincial breakdown of the 7,168 facilities that met the 2020 NPRI reporting criteria. A total of 1,214 additional facilities reported but did not meet the criteria. For consistency, those additional facilities are not included in the calculation.

Source: Data as of January 24, 2022.

Note: This map shows the NPRI reporting facilities for 2020 (7,168 facilities), excluding those that did not meet the reporting criteria (1,214 facilities).

Regional overview

  • In 2020, the Prairie Region reported the largest quantity of releases to the NPRI, contributing to 43% of total Canadian pollutant releases to air, water and land. The Québec and Ontario Region also contributed significantly, reporting 36% of the pollutants released to air, water and land in 2020.
  • The Québec and Ontario Region reported the largest quantity of pollutant disposals and transfers to the NPRI in 2020, contributing to 39% of total Canadian disposals and transfers
Releases to land increased by 7,000 tonnes
Long description
Regional overview
Region Releases On-site disposals Off-site disposals and transfers Total
Atlantic region 195,629 216,423 60,475
472,535
Northern region 26,574 117,317 2 143,896
Pacific region 364,671 429,009 61,695
855,394
Prairie region 1,208,531 281,250 150,984 1,640,874
Quebec and Ontario region 1,014,919 621,828
226,255 1,863,153

Source: Data as of January 24, 2022.

 

 

Atlantic region

Provinces

  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Nova Scotia
  • New Brunswick

Population: 2.4 million people (2021), or 7% of the Canadian population

Number of facilties: in 2020, 212 facilities in the region reported to the NPRI

Top sectors and substances

  • Main Sectors: Other (Except Manufacturing) sector (37 facilities or 14%), closely followed by the Electricity sector (8%)
  • Top substance by quantity: manganese and its compounds (mostly released by the Mining and Quarrying sector). In 2020, 36% of the manganese releases across Canada were from the Atlantic Region.

Total pollutant releases: 472,535 tonnes

Total pollutant releases, disposals and transfer by group in the Atlantic region
Long description
Atlantic region
On-site releases (41%)
Quantity (tonnes)
Percentage
Air 186,926 96%
Water 7,564
4%
Land 1,139
1%
All media 7
<1%
Total
195,637
 
Transfers and disposal (59%)
Quantity (tonnes)
Percentage
On-site disposals 216,423 78%
Off-site transfers for treatment prior to final disposal
559 0.2%
Off-site transfers for recycling
58,806 21%
Off-site disposals
1,110 0.4%
Total reported disposals and transfers 276,898  

Source: NPRI Data as of January 24, 2022.

 

 

Québec and Ontario region

Population: 23 million people (2021), or 61% of the Canadian population

Number of facilties: In 2020, 2,379 facilities in the Québec and Ontario Region reported to the NPRI.

Top sectors and substances

  • Main sector: the Other Manufacturing sector had the most facilities in the Québec and Ontario Region in 2020 (615 facilities or 26%), closely followed by the Chemicals sector (12%).
  • Top substance by quantity: carbon monoxide (mostly released by the Aluminum sector). In 2020, 56% of carbon monoxide releases across Canada were from the Québec and Ontario Region.

Total pollutant releases: 1,863,163 tonnes

Total pollutant releases, disposals and transfer by group in the Ontario and Quebec region
Long description
Québec and Ontario region
On-site releases (54%)
Quantity (tonnes)
Percentage
Air 918,239
90%
Water 84,014
8%
Land 12,666
1%
All media 160
<1%
Total
1,015,079
 
Transfers and disposal (46%)
Quantity (tonnes)
Percentage
On-site disposals 621,828
73%
Off-site transfers for treatment prior to final disposal
39,481 5%
Off-site transfers for recycling
157,642 19%
Off-site disposals
29,132 3%
Total reported disposals and transfers 848,084  

Source: NPRI Data as of January 24, 2022.

 

 

Priarie region

Provinces

  • Alberta
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan

Population: 6.7 million people (2021), or 18% of the Canadian population

Number of facilties: In 2020, 2,931 facilities in the Priarie region reported to the NPRI.

Top sectors and substances

  • Main sector: in 2020, the Conventional Oil and Gas Extraction sector had the most facilities in the Prairie Region (2,134 facilities or 73%).
  • Top substance by quantity: nitrogen oxides (mostly released by the Conventional Oil and Gas Extraction sector). In 2020, 62% of nitrogen oxide releases across Canada were from the Prairie Region.

Total pollutant releases: 1,863,163 tonnes

Total pollutant releases, disposals and transfer by group in the Priarie region
Long description
Priarie region
On-site releases (74%)
Quantity (tonnes)
Percentage
Air 1,183,689
98%
Water 23,168
2%
Land 1,673
<1%
All media 109
<1%
Total
1,208,640
 
Transfers and disposal (26%)
Quantity (tonnes)
Percentage
On-site disposals 281,250
65%
Off-site transfers for treatment prior to final disposal
5,254
1%
Off-site transfers for recycling
20,608
5%
Off-site disposals
125,122
29%
Total reported disposals and transfers 432,234
 

Source: NPRI Data as of January 24, 2022.

 

 

Pacific region

Provinces

  • British Columbia

Population: 5 million people (2021), or 14% of the Canadian population

Number of facilties: In 2020, 644 facilities in the Pacific region reported to the NPRI.

Top sectors and substances

  • Main sector: in 2020, the majority of facilities in the Pacific Region were in the Conventional Oil and Gas Extraction sector (232 facilities or 36%).
  • Top substance by quantity: particulate matter (mostly released by the Conventional Oil and Gas Extraction sector). In 2020, 37% of particulate matter releases across Canada were from the Pacific Region.

Total pollutant releases: 855,394 tonnes

Total pollutant releases, disposals and transfer by group in the Pacific region
Long description
Pacific region
On-site releases (43%)
Quantity (tonnes)
Percentage
Air 343,528
94%
Water 20,235
6%
Land 908
<1%
All media 19
<1%
Total
364,690
 
Transfers and disposal (57%)
Quantity (tonnes)
Percentage
On-site disposals 429,009
87%
Off-site transfers for treatment prior to final disposal
2,646
1%
Off-site transfers for recycling
53,642
11%
Off-site disposals
5,407
1%
Total reported disposals and transfers 490,704
 

Source: NPRI Data as of January 24, 2022.

 

 

Northern region

Provinces and territories

  • Yukon
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut

Population:  118,160 people (2021), or less than 1% of the Canadian population

Number of facilties: In 2020, 82 facilities in the Nothern region reported to the NPRI.

Top sectors and substances

  • Main sector: in 2020, the Electricity sector had the most facilities in the Northern Region (60 facilities or 73%).
  • Top substance by quantity: manganese and its compounds (mostly released by the Mining and Quarrying sector). In 2020, 10% of manganese releases across Canada were from the Northern Region.

Total pollutant releases: 143,896 tonnes

Total pollutant releases, disposals and transfer by group in the Nothern region
Long description
Northern region
On-site releases (18%)
Quantity (tonnes)
Percentage
Air 26,504
100%
Water 25
<1%
Land 45
<1%
All media 4
<1%
Total
26,577
 
Transfers and disposal (82%)
Quantity (tonnes)
Percentage
On-site disposals 117,317
100%
Off-site transfers for treatment prior to final disposal
-
0%
Off-site transfers for recycling
0
0%
Off-site disposals
2
<1%
Total reported disposals and transfers 117,319
 

Source: NPRI Data as of January 24, 2022.

 

 

Effects of COVID-19

There were a total of 2,058 shutdown periods reported to the NPRI in 2020, which is slightly higher than 2019 (1,993). Facilities are not required to explain why they shutdown, so we cannot determined with any certainty if shutdowns were caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in the report comments, 205 facilities indicated that they had temporarily shut down due to the pandemic.

The key industrial sectors that reported the largest number of COVID-19-related shutdowns are:

  • Wood Products – 42 (20% of COVID-19-related shutdowns)
  • Transportation Equipment Manufacturing – 39 (19%)
  • Other Manufacturing – 34 (17%)

Prices for products manufactured in Canada have increased since the beginning of the pandemic, potentially putting pressure on many manufacturing facilities reporting to the NPRI. In particular, the price of lumber and other wood products has increased significantly as a result of the pandemic and other factors, contributing to the imbalance in wood supply and demand.

139 facilities reported that some or all of their releases have decreased from the previous year directly due to COVID-19. Releases (air, water and land) from these facilities decreased by 27,859 tonnes (13.4%) from 2019 to 2020, despite a general upwards trend from 2011.  Among these emissions, a significant decrease in ethylene glycol releases was noted, mainly from airports that use this substance as a de-icer. From the beginning of the pandemic, aircraft movements at major Canadian airports and the number of passengers travelling by air dropped drastically. A decrease in airport activity may therefore explain the changes observed in the NPRI data. Statistics Canada has other data on overall production decreases due to COVID-19.

Pollution prevention plans

Pollution prevention involves identifying the causes of waste and pollution and finding ways to minimize them. A facility’s pollution prevention plan includes an examination of current operations and steps to eliminate or reduce pollution at its source.

1,034Footnote 1  reporting facilities had pollution prevention plans in place in 2020. Of these plans:

  • 679 were prepared voluntarily
  • 343 were prepared to meet the requirements of provincial or territorial governments
  • 68 were prepared to meet the requirements of a notice under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (e.g., the pollution prevention planning notice for toluene diisocyanates)

Most of the pollution prevention plans (745) targeted harmful substances, such as mercury, lead, and nitrogen oxides.

Pollution prevention activities

3,338 facilities (47% of reporting facilities) reported 4,953 pollution prevention activities. Facilities can implement activities stemming from seven main categories in order to prevent pollution. For 2020, the most common activity category was “Good operating practice or training”, with 2,530 activities completed. The second most common activity was “Spill and leak prevention”, with 927 activities completed.

Activities reported for 2019, by industry sector

Activities reported by sector for 2020
Long description 
Activities reported by facilities for 2020
Pollution prevention activity category
Number of activities implemented by facilities
Good operating practices of training
2,530
Spill and leak prevention 927
Equipment or process modifications
341
On-site recovery, re-use or recycling 279
Inventory management or purchasing techniques 165
Materials or feedstock substitution
199
Product design or reformulation
84
Other pollution prevention activities 428

Source: Data as of January 24, 202`2.

For examples of how reporting facilities have previously implemented actions within each of these categories, see How to green your business by preventing pollution.

The remaining 3,831 facilities (53% of reporting facilities) declared not having implemented activities in the 2020 reporting year. Barriers to implementation included:

  • unknown or unavailable alternatives (1,146 facilities)
  • additional activities being unnecessary of unfeasible at this time (991 facilities)
  • insufficient understanding of pollution prevention (314 facilities)
  • insufficient capital (285 facilities);
  • concern that product quality may decline as a result of activities (110 facilities);
  • other reasons (1,025 facilities).

The most common barrier was "unknown or unavailable alternatives".

Access NPRI data

Download the complete NPRI data in various formats from the Government of Canada open data portal and the NPRI datasets webpage.

We invite you to contact the National Pollutant Release Inventory by email at inrp-npri@ec.gc.ca if you would like more information or if you have any questions on the data.

Source: NPRI Data as of January 24, 2022

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