Emerging solid wastes and arising environmental impacts

The management of emerging solid waste in Canada is a critical environmental issue as the country grapples with evolving patterns of resource consumption and increasing waste generation. Provinces with growing populations, like Manitoba, reportedly generate more than 900,000 tons of municipal solid waste biyearly and highly populated Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Colombia produce over 2 million tons in overall wastes for disposal (inclusive of residential and nonresidential solid wastes). With changing lifestyles and rapid obsolescence of “older” technology, new solid waste streams are emerging. Their management challenges do not only relate to efficient disposal but finding sustainable recycling approaches to recover valuable resources (circular economy). This chapter explores the nature of these emerging wastes, such as disaster-related wastes, electronic and plastic wastes, which have become progressive contributors to the overall waste stream. Additionally, their associated contaminants of concern, such as leachates, legacy pollutants and microplastics are discussed, along with environmental impacts.