Statistics Canada stats show an upward trend in recycling and composting in Canada, but the amount varies greatly between cities. Higher diversion rates are seen in municipalities with better services and ease for residents to do so.

The promise made by Ontario to stop transporting our waste to Michigan by the year 2010 has led to debates over the possible alternatives. In response, Durham Region is “deeply committed” to building an incinerator despite its previous assurance that the region will not see a landfill in the area.

Residents in Vancouver are looking into alternative ways to deal with their garbage as the civic strike looms on.

Both retailers and households need to pitch in to reduce waste. The green bin option proves to play a big role in waste diversion. Residents in Markham divert 70% of their waste, while residents in Toronto (where green bins aren’t readily available) only divert 42%.

Like Toronto and Durham Region municipalities, Vaughan and six other York Region municipalities are set to reduce their weekly garbage collection to a two-week schedule.

“Garbage, sewer and drainage rates could all be going up next year in Seattle.”

The money will be used to pay for new programs including city park recycling programs, transfer station rebuilds and stormwater cleanup campaigns.

By the year 2040 Austin, Texas is hoping to join cities like Seattle and San Francisco in achieving zero waste by utilizing recycling and incentive programs.

Closed incineration plants and misused public funds have resulted in the pileup of 5 thousand tonnes of rubbish in Naples. Desperate residents in the city and surrounding Campania region are building bonfires in an attempt to clear the rubbish, but this also releases toxic pollutants into the air, causing health and environmental concerns.

Source: Thomson Reuters

As concerns about climate change escalate and prices on fossil fuels like oil and natural gas soar to record levels, more companies are investing in ways to use methane gas to power homes and vehicles.