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GEO-6 Regional Assessment for North America


3.2.5 Waste


In North America, effective waste reduction has largely been driven by policies and legislation in combination with appropriate technologies and economic measures. The North American approach to waste management has evolved over the years from open dumping of solid waste to integrated waste management in a shift towards holistic and proactive approaches (Hettiaratchi 2007).


All levels of government in Canada, primarily through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, work together to improve the management of waste. In October 2009, the federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of the Environment approved a Canada-wide Action Plan for Extended Producer Responsibility (CAP-EPR) aimed at diverting products from landfills and increasing recycling (CCME 2009). EPR shifts the burden for diversion and recycling away from general taxpayers, and onto manufacturers, importers, retailers, and consumers of these products. Through the CAP-EPR, jurisdictions committed to work towards the development of EPR legislation and/or regulations and to promote a harmonized approach to EPR programme and policies. All provincial and territorial jurisdictions have mandatory and/or voluntary EPR or product stewardship programmes in place or under development for a wide range of products including packaging, printed materials, electronics and electrical equipment, used oil, and tires. Federal, provincial and territorial governments support the shared Vision for Waste Management adopted by Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) in 2014 to make Canada a world leader in waste management (CCME 2016).


Since 2006, Canada’s Green Procurement Policy has aimed to “advance the protection of the environment and support sustainable development by integrating environmental performance


considerations into the procurement


decision-making process,” including: reducing waste hazardous waste, and toxic and hazardous chemicals and substances; supporting reuse and recycling; promoting more environmentally responsible planning, acquisition, use and


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Currently, it is estimated that over 97 per cent of food waste is discarded in landfills. A growing number of policies and programmes at both the state and local level demonstrate interest in the re-use and composting of food waste. Source-


disposal practices in federal government; and promoting healthier work environments through the purchase of environmentally preferable goods and services (Government of Canada 2016).


Although many municipalities across Canada have


implemented landfill bans to improve waste diversion, two provinces (Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia) have utilized province-wide landfill bans for materials including, a long list of recyclable materials and organics (food, leaf and yard waste) from the residential and industrial, commercial and institutional sectors (Giroux Environmental Consulting 2014).


The US also has a diverse portfolio of policy instruments to manage waste in a sustainable manner. A few examples highlighted include green procurement, user-pay systems, disposal bans, carbon credits and food-waste treatment (US EPA 2015e). The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), enacted in 1976, is the primary federal US law that governs solid and hazardous waste disposal (Andersen 1978; Stander and Theodore 2006; USEPA 2015i). The general purpose of the RCRA is to reduce waste, conserve energy and natural resources, and protect the environment and human health from waste disposal hazards.


In the US, the cost of household solid waste management is covered by taxes, which guarantees the service to virtually all citizens. However, there can be a negative externality in the form of excess waste if the service is perceived as free. The concept of user pay or user fees is a solution that involves applying a variable charge to homeowners for solid waste collection and disposal according to their usage of the service – this is known as ‘pay-as-you-throw’. This system makes the cost of waste more visible and targeted so as to incentivize homeowners to reduce their waste generation (FCM 2004).


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