Canadian Waste Management
Canadian Communities
Canadian Disposal System
The Canadian Waste Management System handles the waste disposal of Canada. Mississauga follows the same waste management regulations as the rest of Canada. The waste management system deals with the recycling, composting and decomposition of waste. Th issue not only in Canada but all around the world is the accumulation of waste is getting greater as time goes on. So much that it will soon be out of control.
What Happens to The Waste
Waste collected in the waste management system is left in landfills, recycled and composted. When waste is brought to landfills, they are left for years to break up or decompose. The decomposition of tin can can take 100 years. The decomposition can also be bad as it can pollute the soil. Recycling converts waste into reusable material. Recycling is much more environmentally friendly than decomposing waste. Composting has become more common now than 10 years ago. Composting is the process of decomposing organic food and releasing nutrients into the soil.
Impact On The Environment
Garbage management is a big part of building a sustainable community. The collection of garbage and disposing of the garbage can cause pollution and release deadly fumes as the result of burning rubbers and plastics. These fumes can include chemicals such as "dioxins", which can cause cancer. It was made illegal by the laws of Canada to burn rubber without the appropriate paper work. Waste left in landfills to decompose can also contaminate the soil.
Production of Waste
The average waste produced everyday by people in Canada is 2.2 kg. Canadians produce a total of more than 30 million tonnes per year. Canada produces twice as much garbage than Japan. (377 kg per person per year in Japan and 777 kg per person per year in Canada).
Reducing Waste
The most popular way to reduce waste in landfills is to compost and recycle. Canada uses the "blue box" system for recycling. Recycling is the process of converting waste into reusable material. This reduces the need for objects to decompose or break down over years. Objects similar to tin cans could take 100 years to break down and 1 million years for plastic to break down. Composting also reduces the waste in landfills by decomposing only organic material spreading nutrients to benefit soil instead of contaminate it.
Recycling Initiatives
Canada has many ways to recycle different materials. Companies like Home Depot allow you to bring old batteries to their stores and dispose of them. Home Depot also let's you bring old paint and fluorescent light bulbs in to be disposed. Battery powered appliances can also be taken in for disposal. The company Call2Recycle uses old batteries as material for advertisement telling people to recycle.
Scientific Solutions
Livin Studio and Utrecht University have created a plastic eating fungus. Plastic is placed in cones of "agar" and is then broken down. The scientists working on this project are also experimenting with making the fungi edible so there is no waste left over. This process can take weeks, but is more beneficial than the years that it can take decomposing in a landfill. Scientists say this method of waste disposal could solve the world's many waste problems. This experiment is still being developed.
How Do We Solve Our Trash Problem?
Conclusion
Waste management is a big responsibility for a community. Having too much waste will affect us more later in the future. Right now it's slowly destroying our planet by polluting the air and soil of the Earth. This generation might see the affects of poor waste management. It's now the responsibility of the citizens of Canada to make a difference and use methods like recycling and composting to benefit us in the long run.