An audit released by the Montreal auditor general on Tuesday indicates that the majority of household waste in the city continues to be disposed of in landfills, leaving the municipality well short of its 15% landfill target. The report, dated August 25, 2026, points out that less than four years remain for the city to achieve the goal it set for limiting landfill disposal to 15% of total waste.
The audit examined recent waste‑management data and confirmed that most of the waste generated by residents still ends up in landfill sites. While the city had pledged to reduce landfill reliance, the findings show that the current trajectory does not align with the intended reduction. The auditor general highlighted that without a significant shift in waste processing or recycling rates, the 15% target is unlikely to be reached within the remaining timeframe.
City officials have previously outlined plans to increase recycling and composting, but the audit does not provide evidence that those measures have materially altered the share of waste sent to landfills. The report calls attention to the gap between the city’s stated objective and the actual disposal patterns observed.
Montreal residents, who generate the household waste in question, are now faced with the prospect that the city may need to adjust its strategies or extend the deadline to meet the landfill reduction goal. The auditor general’s findings serve as an official accounting of the city’s progress, or lack thereof, as the deadline approaches.
The audit’s release comes as municipal planners review upcoming waste‑management initiatives. The data underscores the challenge of achieving the 15% landfill limit in the remaining years and may prompt further scrutiny of existing policies and resource allocation.
The auditor general’s report will be made publicly available for review, providing a detailed account of waste streams and the shortfall relative to the city’s target.