In this section
Did you know that Canadians produce more than 31 million tonnes of waste annually?* That’s 2.7 kgs per person per day!
Most of our waste ends up buried in landfills. For waste to decompose in a healthy environment, such as your compost pile, it requires air and water. These are not present deep in the landfill. Water that drains through the landfill picks up dissolved solids as it goes, which may end up in our groundwater system, not to mention landfills creates greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.
It is up to each of us as individuals, communities, schools or businesses to consider what we are throwing away and the environmental impact this is causing.
* Statistics Canada, Environment Accounts and Statistics Division
Did you know the three Rs of waste management are in order of importance? Reduce and Reuse before you Recycle. Reusing saves energy, money and landfill space.
Waste Reduction Week is celebrated across Canada each October. To find out more about what other parts of Canada is doing to reduce their waste visit Waste Reduction Week in Canada.
Single use items are one of the largest contributors to waste in our landfills. Reducing your use of them isn’t hard, it just takes practice. Try to remember to take your reusable cutlery, straws, take out containers, and bags with you. Make your own beeswax wrap to use instead of plastic wrap.
The average Canadian throws away 30 - 40kg of textiles per year. Textiles are clothing, towels, drapes, linens, purses, shoes, and other cloth materials. In recent audits we found that approximately 9% of the of the average black cart materials were reusable or recyclable textiles.
Recycling your unwanted textiles reduces waste, benefits the environment and local community and leaves more room in your black cart. The local community also benefits from donated textiles as local non-profit thrift stores re-invest the money they receive into the community. These stores provide jobs and also support many community initiatives.
The average Canadian student contributes 30kg of waste per year just in their lunch kits. Packing a lunch using reusable containers and sandwich bags is easy, cost effective and reduces waste.
Need help with lunch ideas? Use this handouts with your kids to make packing lunches a little more fun.
Waste free lunch tips (6.7 MB)
Strathcona County residents waste 4.8 million pounds of food a year. Nearly 48% of our black cart waste is food waste or compostable materials. Food waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions when put into a landfill. However if put in the green cart it will turn into compost and be used to grow food our local producers will make with in one year.
Here are some tips to reduce you food waste.
Utilities Phone: 780-449-5514 greenroutine@strathcona.ca
Last updated: Thursday, May 08, 2025 Page ID: 40887