Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This review article assesses the crucial role of waste management in Canada’s pursuit of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 6, 11, 12 and 13. By applying a structured literature review informed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) model, this study systematically identified the key waste management strategies and their alignment with the concerning targets of the SDGs. The study includes insights from academic publications, government reports and national performance data. The study’s findings highlight both policy achievements and ongoing challenges, including regional disparities, low recycling rates and inadequate electronic waste management. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for uniform national strategies, stakeholder engagement and data-driven performance targets. This study contributes to the understanding of policy gaps and provides policy and research directions for advancing sustainability.

Keywords

Waste management sustainable development goals sustainability waste treatment public policy innovative practices circular economy climate action and community engagement

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

BaleForce (2024) Canada’s Recycling Problem. Milton, ON, Canada: BaleForce Recycling Equipment.

BC Laws (2024) Environmental Management Act – Recycling Regulations. BC Laws. Available at: https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/crbc/crbc/449_2004 (accessed 30 June 2025).

CCME (2009) Canada-wide plan for extended producer responsibility. CCME Council of Ministers.

CCME (2019) Canada-wide action plan on zero plastic waste – Phase 01. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. Available at: https://ccme.ca/en/res/1589_ccmecanada-wideactionplanonzeroplasticwaste_en-secured.pdf (accessed 15 June 2025).

CCME (2025, June) Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. Government of Canada. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/pan-canadian-framework/canadian-council-ministers-environment.html (accessed 30 June 2025).

CIF (2025) 17 goals to transform our world. Available at: The Canadian Indicator Framework: https://sdgcif-data-canada-oddcic-donnee.github.io/ (accessed 16 June 2025).

City of Toronto (2024) Long Term Waste Management Strategy. Recycling, Organics & Garbage. Available at: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/recycling-organics-garbage/long-term-waste-strategy/overview/ (accessed 10 December 2024).

City of Vancouver (2020) Greenest City Action Plan. Available at https://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/greenest-city-action-plan.aspx (accessed 15 July 2024).

Das

Lee

S-H

Kumar

, et al. (2019) Solid waste management: Scope and the challenge of sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production 228: 658–678.

10.

Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment (2019, December) Solid Waste Management in Newfoundland and Labrador. Available at: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: https://www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/waste-management-final-report-review-pswms.pdf (accessed 8 June 2024).

11.

ECCC (2013) Canadian Environmental Protection Act annual report for April 1998 to March 1999. Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/historical/annual-reports/canadian-environmental-protection-act-annual-report-1998-1999.html (accessed 8 June 2024).

12.

ECCC (2017) Solid Waste Management for Northern and Remote Communities. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Public Inquiries Centre.

13.

ECCC (2022) Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Annual Report to Parliament for April 2020 to March 2021. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/publications/annual-report-2020-2021.html (accessed 16 June 2025).

14.

ECCC (2023a) Restoring the Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Environmental indicators. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/restoring-great-lakes-areas-concern.html (accessed 18 June 2025).

15.

ECCC (2023b) Waste and Greenhouse Gases: Canada’s Actions. Municipal solid waste management. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/municipal-solid/waste-greenhouse-gases-canada-actions.html (accessed 10 June 2025).

16.

ECCC (2024) Municipal solid waste management in Canada. Waste management in Canada. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/managing-reducing-waste/municipal-solid/environment.html (accessed 30 June 2025).

17.

ECCC (2025, June) Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Mandate. Government of Canada. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/corporate/mandate.html (accessed 10 June 2025).

18.

Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2015) Towards a Circular Economy: Business Rationale for an Accelerated Transition. Cowes: Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

19.

Forti

Baldé

Kuehr

, et al. (2020) The Global E-waste Monitor 2020: Quantities, flows, and the circular economy potential. Available at: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Environment/Documents/Toolbox/GEM_2020_def.pdf (accessed 8 June 2024).

20.

Ghisellini

Cialani

Ulgiati

(2016) A review on circular economy: the expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production 114: 11–32.

21.

Government of Alberta (2022, October) Waste Control Regulation. Available at https://open.alberta.ca/publications/1996_192 (accessed 15 August 2024).

22.

Government of British Columbia (2023) Recycling Regulation amendments and initiatives. B.C.’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Available at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/waste-management/recycling/extended-producer-responsibility/recycling-regulation (accessed 15 August 2024).

23.

Government of Canada (2020) Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy 2020 to 2023. Public Safety Canada. Available at: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2020-stn-devt-stgy-2020-23/index-en.aspx (accessed 15 June 2025).

24.

Government of Canada (2024a) Innovative Solutions Canada. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Available at: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/innovative-solutions-canada/en/about-us (accessed 1 July 2025).

25.

Government of Canada (2024b) Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation. Canada and the Sustainable Development Goals. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/agenda-2030/clean-water.html (accessed 1 July 2025).

26.

Government of Canada (2024c) Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations (SOR/2012-139). Available at: Wastewater: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/wastewater/wastewater-systems-effluent-regulations.html (accessed 10 July 2024).

27.

Government of Manitoba (2025, June) The Waste Reduction and Prevention Act. Government of Manitoba. Available at: https://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/w040.php?lang=en (accessed 10 June 2025).

28.

Government of Ontario (2016) Waste-Free Ontario Act, 2016, S.O. 2016, c. 12 – Bill 151. Government of Ontario. Available at: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/s16012 (accessed 5 August 2024).

29.

Government of Quebec (2011) Québec Residual Materials Management Policy. Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. Available at: https://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/matieres/pgmr/presentation_en.pdf (accessed 5 August 2024).

30.

Government of Saskatchewan (2010) Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2010, E-10.22. Government of Saskatchewan. Available at: https://publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/31893 (accessed 16 June 2025).

31.

Guberman

(2021) What is Waste-to-Energy? RTS. Available at: https://www.rts.com/blog/what-is-waste-to-energy/ (accessed 1 July 2025).

32.

Hargreaves

(2011) Practicing behaviour change: Applying social practice theory to pro-environmental behaviour change. Journal of Consumer Culture 11: 79–99.

33.

Hoornweg

Bhada-Tata

(2012) What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management. World Bank.

34.

Karolinska Institutet Library (2024) Structured literature reviews: A guide for students. University Library. Available at: https://kib.ki.se/en/search-evaluate/systematic-reviews/structured-literature-reviews-guide-students (accessed 20 June 2025).

35.

Keske

Mills

Godfrey

, et al. (2018) Waste management in remote rural communities across the Canadian North: Challenges and opportunities. Detritus 2: 63–77.

36.

Lee

(2024) Municipal Governance Structures And Effective Climate Policy: A Canadian Case Study. MGA Reading Course. Available at: https://doi.org/https://urbanclimateactionproject.ca/ucap-docs/gla2095_municipalgovernancestructuresandeffectiveclimatepolicy_lee.pdf (accessed 20 June 2025).

37.

Mahmoud

Essam

Hassan

, et al. (2024) Modeling circular supply chains as an approach for waste management: A systematic review and a conceptual framework. Journal of Engineering Research. Epub ahead of print 8 May 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.jer.2024.05.004.

38.

Mehrotra

Agarwal

Awan

, et al. (2024) Zero waste solutions in hospitality: technology alignment and agile management practices for responsible consumption and production of food. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. Epub ahead of print 29 November 2024. DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2024.2427821.

39.

Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (2024) Published plans and annual reports 2023–2024: Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Available at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/published-plans-and-annual-reports-2023-2024-ministry-environment-conservation-and-parks (accessed 1 July 2025).

40.

National Zero Waste Council (2024) About Us. National Zero Waste Council, an initiative of Metro Vancouver. Available at: https://nzwc.ca/about/what-we-are-doing/Pages/default.aspx (accessed 18 June 2025).

41.

Nova Scotia (2024) Environment and Climate Change. Residential Backyard and Curbside Composting. Available at: https://novascotia.ca/nse/waste/rescomposting.asp#:~:text=Compostable%20materials%20collected%20at%20the,is%20used%20to%20enhance%20soil%20 (accessed 10 June 2025).

42.

OECD (2025, June) Circular economy in cities and regions. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/circular-economy-in-cities-and-regions.html (accessed 30 June 2025).

43.

Pereira

Quelhas

Neto

(2022) Waste management analysis for energy generation: An interdisciplinary study. In: Popescu

(ed.) Frameworks for Sustainable Development Goals to Manage Economic, Social, and Environmental Shocks and Disasters. Hershey, PA: IGI Global Scientific Publishing, p.16.

44.

Province of Nova Scotia (2009) Solid Waste-Resource Management Regulations. Halifax Regional Municipality. Available at: https://legacycontent.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/130618cow2cmc4.pdf (accessed 16 June 2025).

45.

Ram

Bracci

(2024) Waste management, waste indicators and the relationship with sustainable development goals (SDGs): A systematic literature review. Sustainability 16: 8486.

46.

Sachs

Lafortune

Fuller

(2024) Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2024. Dublin: Dublin University Press.

47.

Sawell

Hetherington

Chandler

(1996) An overview of municipal solid waste management in Canada. Waste Management 16: 351–359.

48.

Schultz

Bator

Large

, et al. (2011) Littering in context: Personal and environmental predictors of littering behavior. Environment and Behavior 45: 35–59.

49.

Secundoa

Ndou

Vecchio

, et al. (2020) Sustainable development, intellectual capital and technology policies: A structured literature review and future research agenda. Technological Forecasting & Social Change 153: 119917.

50.

Shankar

Dhir

Talwar

, et al. (2022) Balancing food waste and sustainability goals in online food delivery: Towards a comprehensive conceptual framework. Technovation 117: 102606.

51.

Skinner

(2023) New Directions for Greenhouse Gas Controls, Renewable Energy and Solid Waste Management in North America. Chicago, IL: Daniels Health.

52.

Srivastav

Markandeya

Pandey

, et al. (2023) Concepts of circular economy for sustainable management of electronic wastes: Challenges and management options. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30: 48654–48675.

53.

Statista (2019) Estimated Annual Waste per Capita of the Leading Waste Producing Countries Worldwide as of 2019. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1168066/largest-waste-producing-countries-worldwide-per-capita/ (accessed 8 August 2024).

54.

Statistics Canada (2023) Municipal wastewater discharges by treatment category, 2020. Government of Canada. Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230511/cg-b001-eng.htm (accessed 20 June 2025).

55.

Stefanelli

Castleden

Harper

, et al. (2017) Experiences with integrative Indigenous and Western knowledge in water research and management: A systematic realist review of literature from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Environmental Reviews 25: 323–333.

56.

Sustainable Development Report (2024) Sustainable Development Report. Available at: https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/profiles/canada (accessed 1 July 2025).

57.

Syed

(2024) Ontario Could Run Out of Landfill Space in Nine Years. Then What? The Narwhal.

58.

Thakur

Ramesh

(2015) Healthcare waste management research: A structured analysis and review (2005–2014). Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 33: 855–870.

59.

UNEP (2024) Youth Education for a Sustainable Future. UN Environment Programme. Available at: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/speech/youth-education-sustainable-future (accessed 1 June 2025).

60.

United Nations (2015) Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UN 2030 Agenda. Available at: https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda (accessed 10 August 2024).

61.

Wang

Chen

(2023) A review on solid waste management in Canadian First Nations communities: Policy, practices, and challenges. Cleaner Waste Systems 4: 100074.

From waste to sustainable development: Evaluating Canada’s waste management policies and Sustainable Development Goals progress

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References