Overcoming Barriers to Circular Composting in Canada - How Canada can scale local success into a national climate solution

For composting to meet Canada’s climate goals, we must tackle the real-world barriers that limit its reach. Across the country, innovative local programs have demonstrated that organics diversion can significantly reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

But these examples of circular composting success remain too isolated to meaningfully shift the national emissions curve. Turning isolated wins into a coordinated national impact requires understanding why successful models have not yet taken root everywhere.

Unlocking this potential means moving beyond pilot projects to address system-wide barriers, from community engagement to infrastructure and policy harmonization, so that composting becomes a pillar of Canada’s climate action strategy.

To understand the national roadmap ahead, read the full article The Composting Landscape of Canadian Municipalities by Madeline Roquemore.

What Holds Back Composting in Canada?

Despite progress, municipalities face several challenges:

• Contamination: Non-organic materials (like plastics) degrade compost quality.

• Low Participation in Multi-Unit Buildings: Infrastructure gaps, high turnover, and unclear policies lower engagement.

• Remote and Northern Logistics: High transportation costs, climate constraints, and facility siting delays.

• Infrastructure Overload: Some urban facilities are nearing capacity, leading to odour complaints and community pushback.

  
  

What’s Needed to Scale Up?

In short, better policy alignment, funding, and public engagement. For example:

• Metro Vancouver’s regional bylaw drives consistent organics diversion across 21 municipalities.

• Toronto’s policy alignment with the Waste-Free Ontario Strategy enables coordinated investment.

• Montreal’s educational outreach (Zero Waste Squad) improves community buy-in.

  
  

Innovation Isn’t Just Technical

Composting success in Canada also depends on:

• Behaviour change campaigns

• Equity in infrastructure funding

• Support for Indigenous-led approaches

• Training and staffing for small communities

  
  

Composting as a Circular Economy Tool

Canada must move beyond “waste management” toward regenerative design:

• Compost restores degraded soil and retains moisture.

• It sequesters carbon and reduces fertilizer dependence.

• Composting creates green jobs and builds local food security.

  
  

Municipalities can create decentralized composting hubs, co-locate systems with landfills, and transition to electric collection fleets to further reduce emissions.

The Path Forward

By embedding composting practices into urban planning and agricultural policy, Canada can transform organic waste from a liability into a resource for environmental resilience. Composting offers:

• Emissions reductions

• Soil regeneration

• Community empowerment

  
  

But scaling requires flexible funding, smarter regulations, and inclusive planning. Education plays a crucial role in empowering Canadians with the knowledge and tools to participate actively in the circular economy. 

Partnerships between local governments, businesses, and community groups foster innovation and scale up infrastructure in both rural and urban settings. As more Canadians embrace composting, we can expect healthier soils, cleaner waterways, and improved food production. 

Together, these efforts will help address climate change, support biodiversity, and pave the way toward a greener, more sustainable Canada for generations to come. Let’s imagine a Canada where composting is the norm, not the exception.