Research summary
Growing populations and rapid urbanization are creating unprecedented amounts of waste—and Canada produces more waste per person than most industrialized nations while recycling less. To address this problem, Dr. Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Sustainability, is developing new ways to design, operate and evaluate waste management systems that are both socially just and environmentally sustainable.
Ng and his research team are combining advanced data analysis, mapping techniques and modelling to understand how waste is generated and managed across Canada’s varied landscapes. By tailoring the design of waste management systems to local conditions, especially in rural, remote and northern communities, their work will improve efficiency and support evidence-based waste policy. These tools will also help jump-start a circular economy in which resources are reused instead of discarded—ultimately transforming how waste is handled in Canada and providing a model for more sustainable systems worldwide.