Characterization and Management of Organic Waste in North America

Commission for Environmental Cooperation xiv Characterization and Management of Organic Waste in North America Abstract Characterization and Management of Organic Waste in North America identifies challenges, opportunities and solutions related to increasing organic waste diversion and processing capacity in North America, with a focus on how to address challenges and opportunities in Canada, Mexi [...] Executive Summary Introduction The North American Initiative on Organic Waste Diversion and Processing is a project launched by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) as part of its 2015–2016 Operational Plan—to enhance North America’s capacity to increase organic waste diversion and processing in the residential and the industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) sectors in Canada [...] Limitations in the availability and quality of data for organic waste in Canada, Mexico and the United States exist at the national level (the focus of this report), particularly in the ICI sector. [...] In addition, organic waste diversion estimates for Canada and the United States were found to be similar to estimates of organic waste in Europe. [...] Organic Waste Diversion, Processing and End-Product Considerations The large volumes of organic waste in North America are primarily disposed of in landfills, but instead could be diverted and processed to yield economic, energy and environmental opportunities.