Publication

Project publication

Milestone Study on Plastics Waste Management in the US and Canada — Executive Summary

Transforming Recycling and Solid Waste Management in the US and Canada

Description

This study examines the plastic waste value chain in Canada and the United States for thermoplastic resins or commodities—the materials most involved in the manufacture, distribution and commercialization of plastic products in the country. The publication includes an overview of related infrastructure, operational management and associated markets and documents the current state of recovery and recycling practices. It also outlines existing public policies and regulations within a circular economy (CE) framework.

The publication describes good practices and provides recommendations to strengthen Canada’s and the United States’ waste management system. In addition, best practices in waste management that can be implemented based on the findings of this study are identified, with the goal of providing information for decision-makers.

This publication is part of the project: Transforming Recycling and Solid Waste Management in North America. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) commissioned a series of milestone studies on the recycling and management of paper and cardboard, plastics and bioplastics waste for Canada and the United States, and for Mexico. A pilot study on composting poly-coated fiber food packaging for Canada and the United States complements this series. Together, these publications aim to accelerate the adoption of CE practices and promote strategies for the sustainable management of these materials, generating economic and environmental benefits across the region.

The complete report is available in English only, but you can consult the executive summary in English, Spanish, and French.