Modern Waste Management
Reducing waste is a challenge across the globe as growing populations and economies are often accompanied by higher volumes of waste.
In this Section
Modern Waste Management
The waste sector is responsible for about 8% of the greenhouse gas emissions in Newfoundland and Labrador. The vast majority of these emissions are generated from organic waste in landfills, which creates methane when it's buried and starts to decay.
Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy
Reducing waste is a challenge across the globe as growing populations and economies are often accompanied by higher volumes of waste. The Provincial Government is meeting this challenge through the Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy. Since its release in 2002, over $161 million has been invested in the strategy to implement modern waste management in Newfoundland and Labrador.
This comprehensive, multi-year strategy is intended to establish modern waste management practices in the province, with goals to:
Provincial Solid Waste Management Strategy. Since its release in 2002, over $161 million has been invested in the strategy to implement modern waste management in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Divert 50% of the materials going to landfills
- Reduce the number of waste disposal sites by 80%
- Eliminate open burning and phasing out incinerators
- Phase out unlined landfill sites
Significant progress has been made since the release of the Waste Management Strategy. As of August 2015, 160 of the 236 disposal sites have closed (68%) and 65% of the population has access to a lined landfill (or equivalent). Additionally, the province has reduced the amount of waste it generates by 28%, with almost 50% of the province's population having access to curbside recycling.
Advances in solid waste management are now being made and the majority of the population will be participating in modern waste management systems in the near future. It is expected that full implementation of the strategy will occur by 2025.
For more information on waste management in the province, visit: