Cutting Waste: How to Save Money While Improving Solid Waste Systems | Impacts on Business and Communities

A recent report from Canada’s EcoFiscal Commission has found that Canadians are generating more solid waste than ever before. On average, Canadians generate nearly double the amount of waste per capita compared to those in other high-income countries. And the more waste we produce, the more costly it is to manage—both for businesses and taxpayers that use these services.

But the solution isn’t just encouraging Canadians to reduce, recycle, and reuse. Instead, our new report finds that we should focus on making our waste systems—all the way from product manufacturing to waste disposal—more efficient and less costly. And the key to an efficient waste management system is getting prices right.

The report recommends several key policy tools to make waste management systems work better by reflecting the true costs of waste. These include “pay-as-you-throw” programs for residents, “tipping fees” that reflect the full cost of service for businesses, and “extended producer responsibility” programs for manufacturers.

By getting the incentives right—by changing how we pay for waste management and changing who pays—we can dramatically improve the efficiency of our solid waste systems.

Find the FULL REPORT here.