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What is waste diversion?
Waste diversion directs garbage away from landfills or incinerators through reuse, recycling, composting or gas production through anaerobic digestion. Waste diversion is a key component of effective and sustainable waste management.
Waste in Canada
In 2006, Canadians produced over 35 million tonnes of waste, or 1,000 kg per person — up eight per cent from 2004. Barriers to waste diversion include the higher cost of diversion compared with landfill, the availability of landfill capacity in some communities, and the lack of knowledge or drive to adopt waste diversion policies. But the need for change is growing as many communities confront issues such as landfill closures, resistance to new landfills, increases in disposal costs, or provincial waste management mandates and targets.
A benchmark for success: 50 per cent diversion
Waste diversion achieves economic, environmental and social benefits. As Canadian municipalities set more ambitious goals for waste diversion, a 50 per cent waste diversion rate can be a useful benchmark. Leading communities are reaching waste diversion rates well beyond the national average of 22 per cent, with several nearing and even exceeding 50 per cent.
Do you have a waste initiative in your community? GMF can help.
Waste diversion projects often require investments to cover capital and operating costs for programs, equipment and facilities. Specific costs may be determined through a waste management study that looks at the strategy being proposed.
GMF offers loans, usually in combination with grants, for waste diversion projects at rates far lower than any municipal government can get on the market. Our rates for municipalities are 1.5% lower than the Government of Canada bond rate and even further below market rates.
GMF also offers loans to private-sector companies or corporations wholly owned by a municipal government for waste diversion projects at competitive rates, if they are partners in eligible municipal projects.
We also provide grants for waste feasibility studies and field tests, as well as educational and training resources.
Find out more
Our team can discuss the benefits and terms of our loans and grants with you and your colleagues at your convenience.
To set up a meeting or to request a presentation on our waste project financing, contact:
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Municipalities outside of Québec:
Paul Gregory, GMF Outreach Officer
613-907-6291
pgregory@fcm.ca
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Municipalities in Québec
Jacques Hébert, Regional Coordinator, Québec
613-907-6365
jhebert@fcm.ca |
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