Projects

The Board of Directors of the Environmental Research and Education Foundation of Canada has awarded $65,000 to Qiuyan Yuan of the University of Manitoba to develop a novel planning tool that can be used to evaluate greenhouse gas emission reductions in Manitoba’s organic waste management systems.

In Manitoba, organic waste is the largest waste stream, consisting of 40% o the residential waste and 50% of industrial, commercial, an institutional waste. However, only 10% of the total organic material generated is composted, while the rest is disposed of in landfills, resulting in environmental costs and unnecessary disposal or resources that could otherwise be used to manufacture new products.

This research will identify key factors that are relevant to waste management program and how they interact to impact greenhouse gas emissions. The study will also quantify greenhouse gas emissions and develop cost-benefit analysis of current disposal practices (i.e. landfilling).

The entire project will be completed in about two years.