Waste and Waste Management

What is waste?

Anything that is no longer useful and is thrown away because it is broken, spoiled or worn out – could be food, clothing, computers, paper, etc.

Different types of waste?

(1) Residential - (makes up about 30 % of total waste)

(2)Non-residential waste makes up about 70% of total wastea. Industrial (e.g. factories, mines, chemical industry, etc.)

b. Commercial (e.g. restaurants, hotels, shops, etc.)

c. Institutional (hospitals, schools, etc.)

1. Residential waste

• Any waste coming from households but that is not hazardous and solid and is picked up by the municipality

2. Non-residential waste

a. Industrial waste

Non-residental waste

b) Commercial waste

c) Institutional waste

Some facts….

Residential waste:

Canadians produce 894 kg per person per year

The amount of waste we produce keeps increasing

We get a D in terms of waste management

Some facts continued….

Non-residential waste

17 million tonnes a year in all of Canada9 million tonnes of that come from Ontario

Where does waste go?

• Re-use (e.g. scrap metal)

• Recycle

• The dump!

Where waste goes in Ottawa…

Why avoid the landfill?

• Expensive (costs the municipality money – taxpayers)

• Air, noise and water pollution

• Increases carbon dioxide and methane released – global warming

Waste Reduction

• Reduce

• Reuse

• Recycle