Find out about the garbage and recycling problem in the Yukon

Canadians are some of the largest producers of waste per capita in the world. Yukoners are right in line with the Canadian average. Yukoners produce approximately 1 tonne of waste per person per year. That includes garbage, recycling and organic waste.

In 2013, a person living in Whitehorse made 37 per cent more waste that they would have in 2000. This is significant because our population is also growing.

It's important that we:

• put less garbage in our landfills; and
• pay to properly manage garbage and recycling.

Waste takes up a lot of space

• Garbage from many Yukon waste facilities ends up in the Whitehorse landfill.
• If we do not reduce our waste, the Whitehorse landfill will be full in about 30 years. Read the Whitehorse Solid Waste Action Plan.
• When the landfill is full we will either have to:
  • expand it; or
  • create another landfill.
• Governments and taxpayers will have to pay to close or create new landfills.

Waste is pollution

• When we create or expand waste facilities, we risk:
  • groundwater and surface water contamination;
  • deforestation;
  • plastic pollution; and
  • interfering with wildlife.
• Waste causes environmental contamination, such as the spreading of microplastics in our waterways.
• Waste that creates air or water pollution can cause human health issues.
• If we use waste facilities that are not properly funded, we increase the risk of pollution caused by waste.

Waste costs money

• Territorial and municipal governments in the Yukon spend $12 million a year managing waste.
• Closing the Whitehorse landfill and replacing it could cost up to $27 million.
• The faster we fill waste facilities, the more money we'll need to pay to expand or build new waste facilities.
• Taxpayers and governments will pay the increasing costs of waste management.
• Read the City of Whitehorse’s 2013 Solid Waste Action Plan for more information.

Who pays for waste now?

Yukoners pay for waste management through:

• tipping fees;
• municipal taxes; or
• waste management fees.

Right now, depending on which facility they use, people may or may not pay tipping fees.

Every Yukoner needs to share the cost of waste management. To make sure this happens, we're introducing tipping fees at all Yukon waste facilities.