Managing Solid Waste Sites

The Environment Act’s Solid Waste Regulations set standards for building and operating dumps and landfill operations in the territory. These regulations are needed because the average Yukoner generates almost 2kg of garbage every day. That's nearly three-quarters of a tonne per year.

Solid Waste Regulations

Permits are required for designing, operating, maintaining, and closing dumps and landfills on most land in Yukon. Permits are required for owners of:

• Waste Disposal Facilities that dispose of garbage generated by the public; and

• Commercial Dumps that dispose of garbage generated by commercial activities or are operated commercially.

Solid Waste in Yukon

Solid waste is the everyday garbage that goes to the local dump. It can come from homes, businesses, institutions, or industrial sites, and includes waste from both the demolition and construction of buildings. It does not include special (hazardous) waste, brush, untreated wood products or sewage.

Most solid waste is deposited in waste disposal sites located near all Yukon communities. The Department of Community Services manages 19 of these 26 sites, while incorporated municipalities manage the rest.

Solid Waste Management Plans

Waste Disposal Facilities are required to develop a 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan describing in detail their design, construction, operation, upgrading, closure and post-closure plans. Commercial Dumps are not required to submit a Solid Waste Management Plan.

Burning

The Solid Waste Regulations do not prohibit the burning of solid waste. Open burning is not recommended, however, and should be considered only as a last resort. Many waste disposal facilities use a container for burning garbage because the higher heat generated reduces the amount of dangerous emissions produced. If you plan to burn garbage you must first obtain an Air Emissions Permit under the Environment Act.

Littering

It is illegal to throw trash from your motor vehicle or allow it to be blown out of the back of your truck. If you lend your vehicle to a friend, you are the responsible person if garbage is disposed of from your vehicle. You may be found guilty of an offence unless you can prove that an unauthorized person was driving your vehicle.

Regulation

• Solid Waste Regulation 39 KB

Permit Application Forms

• Application for On-Farm Operation of a Mobile Abattoir 230 KB

• Application for a Permit for a Solid Waste Disposal Facility or Commercial Dump 90 KB

Additional Resources

• Solid Waste Regulation Fact Sheet 53 KB

• What You Can Do To Reduce Garbage 45 KB

• Guidelines for Preparing Solid Waste Management Plans 57 KB

• Burning Garbage 45 KB