For example, she notes that Nova Scotia keeps all of its
organic materials out of landfill sites.
“Food waste
in landfills uses up space, causes pollution and releases methane, a potent
greenhouse gas. Instead of being landfilled, food waste should be used as a
source of renewable energy and a way to repair damaged soils,” says a news
release from her office.
An example
is Bio-En Power Inc. which generates all the electricity Elmira needs at a plant that
is fuelled by food scraps.
“Ontario
shouldn’t let businesses (e.g., factories, malls, restaurants and developers)
and institutions (e.g., hospitals, universities and schools) keep on creating
and landfilling so much waste,” her report says.
“Businesses
and institutions only recycle a paltry 15 per cent of their waste, sending 2.2
million tonnes more waste to landfill than residents do each year.
“Landfilled
waste causes pollution and squanders valuable resources that should be reused.
“Additionally,
lax rules allow businesses to get away with making products and using processes
that drive a “take, use once, throw away” mentality; cheaper in the short run,
but much more expensive for society over time.”
She praised
the Blue Box recycling program, but said it’s far from enough because Ontario
is still generating one tonne of waste per person per year, and three-quarters
of it ends up in landfills.
Her report,
Beyond the Blue Box:
Ontario’s Fresh Start on Waste Diversion and the Circular Economy can be accessed
on the internet.
