Focus On...Industrial, Commerical & Institutional (ICI) Waste - 2009

Statistics Canada estimates that, in 2006, 66 percent of Canada's waste was from non-residential sources. Saskatchewan's figure is similar - 64 percent. Focusing waste reduction efforts on individuals and households leaves out the two thirds of the waste stream generated by the ICI (industrial, commercial and institutional) sector.

What's in ICI waste? It depends on the community and the composition of its ICI sector. As the pie charts show, there can be considerable differences between communities. Regina's ICI sector waste is estimated to contain 44 percent paper and cardboard; Saskatoon's has 21 percent. Saskatoon's ICI waste stream is 23 percent wood; Regina's has eight percent wood.

Regina ICI Waste, Estimate, 2009

Saskatoon ICI Waste, August 2006

While the composition of the ICI waste stream might vary considerably, these studies make one fact abundantly clear: the potential to divert materials from landfill is ENORMOUS. In Regina's case, their estimate shows 92 percent of the waste stream is either recyclable or compostable. Saskatoon's ICI waste is 88 percent divertible (depending on what categories you include).

Governments, and the ICI sector itself, are starting to work on diverting ICI waste. Saskatoon and Regina both have provisions for diverting ICI materials in their recycling plans. The Ontario government is starting to actively work with the business sector on waste reduction (see Ontario article). Several cities on the U.S. west coast are beginning to mandate ICI recycling and diversion (see West Coast article). Many businesses are actively working to reduce their waste (see RONA and London Drugs for two Canadian examples). While this activity is encouraging, there remains, as in other sectors, a long way to go.

(Source: August 2009 WasteWatch)

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