Ontario Eyes Incineration and Landfills Amid U.S. Trash Tariffs
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Environment Minister Todd McCarthy suggests forced municipal sites as a response to a new 50 per cent tariff on Canadian waste.
Ontario Environment Minister Todd McCarthy has signaled a shift toward increasing the province's waste-burning capacity and expanding landfill infrastructure. According to reporting from CBC Toronto and Global News Toronto, McCarthy's push comes after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian trash, a measure scheduled to take effect in a few days.
McCarthy noted that while Ontario's landfills were previously expected to reach capacity within 10 years, the new U.S. tariffs could accelerate that timeline to just five years. While the minister has not specified the exact number of incinerators or landfills required, he expressed a desire to collaborate with municipalities to establish incineration centers for energy and new landfills. McCarthy further indicated that the provincial government may be forced to compel cities to host these sites.
The urgency follows significant waste exports to the United States. According to a 2024 report from Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, more than three million tonnes of Canadian garbage were shipped to Michigan in 2024. Local pressures are also mounting in Toronto, where city officials have warned that the city's primary landfill could be full within a decade.