Too much food ends up in landfill, watchdog says

The old adage may be “waste not, want not,” but Ontario’s environmental watchdog warns the province’s waste diversion efforts are wanting.

“Ontario has a waste problem; every year, Ontario produces nearly one tonne of waste per person and three-quarters of this ends up in landfills,” environmental commissioner Diane Saxe said Wednesday.

Much of that can, and should, be diverted, said Saxe, who noted that far too much food waste and other organic material is ending up in landfills, releasing pollutants (such as) methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.”

Environment Minister Chris Ballard said the government is willing to consider a ban on dumping food waste in landfill sites.

“Looking at banning organic waste in landfills is one option that we’re looking at,” Ballard told reporters.

“We’re going to continue, as we have all along, consulting and working with municipalities,” he said.

Ballard conceded more can be done.

“Despite our reputation as a green leader, we agree with the environmental commissioner that improvements are necessary to enhance existing programs and reduce the total waste going to landfill,” the minister said. “We are taking action to make that a reality. “The new Waste-Free Ontario Framework represents that next step forward; our goal is to preserve resources and recover valuable materials from waste currently lost to landfill.”

Ballard said Queen’s Park is working with stakeholder groups to develop a new “food-and-organic-waste framework for Ontario.”