The number of self-employed individuals in Canada's waste collection, treatment, and disposal activities, as well as materials recovery sector, is projected to decline over the next five years. From 2024's 960 people, forecasts indicate a steady decrease to 780 people by 2028. This represents an ongoing average annual decrease of approximately 5% from 2024 to 2028. In 2023, prior to this trend, the number of self-employed individuals stood at 1,000 persons, marking the starting point of this downtrend.

Future trends to watch for:

Automation and technological advancements impacting self-employment in waste management.
Growing environmental regulations could either create new opportunities or challenges for self-employed workers.
Market shifts towards more sustainable waste practices may influence employment structures in the sector.