Composting: StatsCan Update - May 2008

While diversion of all waste materials is on the rise, the Canadian compost pile is growing particularly rapidly, according to the new Waste Management Industry Survey.

From 2000 to 2004, composting at centralized facilities increased 70% to 1.7 million tonnes. The average Canadian sent 51 kilograms of organic waste for composting in 2004, compared to just 32 kg in 2000.

According to data from the Households and the Environment Survey, 27% of households composted in some way in 2006, compared with 23% in 1994.

Close to three-quarters of households that composted kitchen waste, and 64% of households that composted yard waste, used a compost bin or pile or buried wastes in their garden. Only 30% of households that composted kitchen waste and 38% of households that composted yard waste used a curbside collection system.

Households in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia were most likely to participate in composting. They were also the most likely to report having kitchen or yard wastes picked up at the curb. PEI also topped the chart with the highest per capita diversion of organic materials, sending 193 kg of organic waste per person to facilities for composting in 2004. Brunswick and Nova Scotia followed, diverting 121 kg and 100 kg of organic waste per person from landfills.

Households in Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador were more likely to use a backyard compost bin or pile.

(Source: May 2008 WasteWatch)

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