Waste Management in Labrador and Northern Communities: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

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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