Are We Missing out on Economic Benefits by not pursuing Waste Management and Recycling in Toronto – a Discussion

 Toronto produces tremendous amounts of waste every day and with that, there comes a responsibility to recycle. By not pursuing every opportunity to recycle and/or to develop further recycling facilities, we are not only creating a less environmentally sustainable city but we are also missing out on significant economic benefits.

Though there’s healthy ongoing developments happening in Toronto recycling, there’s still so much promise yet explored. The untapped potential is something we hope to tackle in Toronto in the decades to come. Toronto has resources that other regions in Canada don’t have. As one of the biggest cities, one of the most culturally diverse in Canada, and with so much corporate involvement, it’s important we use these resources.

To begin with, small businesses, corporations, and industries serve to benefit from recycling but they can’t do it on their own. A lot of the leadership, coordinating, and management needs to come from city and provincial government. The enacting of legislation, policies, and opportunity can build the needed infrastructure to derive further profit from waste reduction, management, and reuse. Just some of the industries where there is profit-building potential includes transportation, manufacturing, selling, and processing.

The economic benefits don’t strictly benefit small businesses and corporations either. The everyday Canadian population could see significant economic opportunity as the recycling industry continues to develop. Even today, the economic benefits are well established. For example, recycling in Canada creates more jobs annually than waste disposal does. A recent study published highlights how 10,000 tons of waste dumped into landfills creates only six jobs whereas recycling the same amount of waste creates approximately thirty-six. That’s 6 times as much job development! Jobs in recycling and waste management also tend to pay more than minimum wage. Thus, for the general untrained population, these are good jobs.

Energy consumption and the investment in maximizing our existing energy resources has come with several economic benefits as well. Recycling energy is key. For example, reusing a ton of mixed paper takes away the 165 gallons of gasoline required to manufacture new product, thereby contributing to carbon dioxide reduction. In fact, when recycling materials from collection and sorting, the energy used is significantly less than what would be required for manufacturing. The amount of waste this keeps from our landfills ensures more acres of land can be saved and diverted for alternative revenue-generating purposes.

The associated economic benefits of environmentally-friendly and recycling-based tax programs has meant income that has been reinvested in aspects of public transportation, social programs, health programs, welfare initiatives, education, public safety, and more.

Let’s be clear in saying Toronto is not off to a terrible start, by any means. There’s just more that can be done. The recycling industry in Toronto holds potentially millions in revenues and thousands of jobs. Waste generation is never going to disappear. Thus, moving forward, we must scout, evaluate, and develop new ways to maximize and minimize revenue-friendly environmentally sustainable opportunities.

For more information on waste management and recycling in Toronto, please contact Core Mini Bins today. As we continue to find new ways to maximize recycling opportunities in Toronto, we are happy to play a role in creating a more environmentally sustainable Toronto for all.