We report results from a two-phase mixed methods research study to illustrate challenges and opportunities of waste management within the rural circumpolar and boreal regions of Canada. In the qualitative research phase, data were obtained from archives, semi-structured interviews with community partners, an information meeting with a community grassroots organization, and a participatory action meeting to develop a case study of the Labrador waste management system. Like many regions across the world's boreal belt, the study area consists of a population centre surrounded by diffuse, rural communities (many of which are inhabited by Indigenous and First Nations persons), multiple land uses, and complex governance considerations. The area faces harsh climatic conditions (e.g. frigidly cold temperatures and extended winters) that challenge biological processes and organic waste decomposition. These regions are often highly reliant upon natural resources and temporary labour forces to drive economic development, and they bear the environmental consequences of legacy wastes after project closures. In the qualitative research phase, we identify factors contributing to the accrual, management, and transport of inorganic waste across the study region to select a priority waste stream for an economic analysis in the quantitative study phase. In the quantitative phase we build an economic enterprise budget to assess costs associated with converting waste biomass from the construction of the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric dam into biochar with either a fast or slow mobile pyrolysis system. We include photos of the study region and we present an Excel-based spreadsheet tool as a supplemental file.
This ar cle discusses the origin and management of waste in two Labrador communi es, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Nain, and results from the qualita ve phase of a two-stage mixed methods research study. Results illuminate challenges and opportuni es associated with waste management in northern communi es. Like many regions across the Canadian North, the principal study area consists of a popula on centre surrounded by diff use, rural, and Indigenous communi es, mul ple land uses, and complex governance considera ons. We iden fy factors contribu ng to the accrual, management, and transport of solid waste in Labrador related to historical and ongoing colonialism. Among the considera ons are military development and mobile labour forces that generate both industrial and household waste. A combina on of remoteness and climate makes waste collec on, storage, and transport costly and slows organic waste decomposi on. Corrosion from municipally treated water generates excessive appliance waste. Limited local food produc on and remoteness from manufacturing and retail centres increases the consump on of disposable shipping materials. Despite these challenges, it is essen al to simultaneously recognize the eff orts of local grassroots ini a ves to eff ectuate sustainable waste management. We conclude that communi es may benefi t from implemen ng synergis c waste management strategies to reduce costs and public health risks, and to concurrently recognize the prac cali es of waste management in the North. Results of the qualita ve research phase led to the selec on of a priority waste stream, black spruce biomass cleared for the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric dam project, for an economic study in the project's quan ta ve research phase.h ps://doi
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