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

Long description
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.

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%).

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%).

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

Long description
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

Long description
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

Long description
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

Long description
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

Long description
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

Long description
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

Long description
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

Long description
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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