The Le Phare sorting center in Port-Cartier will be rebuilt “as quickly as possible”

The La Ressource Le Phare sorting center in Port-Cartier, which went up in flames on Monday, could be rebuilt within two months, according to the company. Its general director, Mélanie Dorion, wants to install a new transshipment dome “as quickly as possible”.

Monday noon, a fire broke out at the Le Phare sorting center, the only one serving Port-Cartier and Sept-Îles. The blaze left rubble behind it, and a major clean-up of the premises is planned in the coming days.

Firefighters fought the blaze for 12 hours, according to the head of the Port-Cartier fire services, Pascal Jacques. Initial findings suggest that the causes of the fire were accidental, he adds.

The transshipment dome, located at the rear of the main building, could be recovered, according to Mélanie Dorion. The first option that comes to mind is to secure the new structure to the old foundations or to recover the current structure and reinstall a canvas.

I’m really optimistic. We have already had so many people show their support for the Lighthouse in all kinds of forms, skills or financial support. I’m sure we’ll resolve this fairly quickly.

Employees will be accompanied

Le Phare employs around sixty workers, the vast majority of whom have limitations or are in social reintegration.

Ms. Dorion assures that all means will be taken to properly support her employees. Payments will follow their course without any problem.

During the period of reassignment of activities, there may be some people who will be on temporary leave, but we will take care of themshe continues.

We will ensure that our world does not [subit] no significant impact on his psychological or financial health. Then gradually, we will bring everyone back to their new role.

The fire caused no injuries and the evacuation took place in an orderly manner, the general director would like to emphasize.

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A fire which occurs two days before the reform of selective collection

The loss of the sorting center occurred just before the entry into force, on January 1, 2025, of the agreement between Le Phare and Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ).

The partnership provides thatÉEQ will be the sole manager of selective collection and will assume the costs, like everywhere else in Quebec.

Changes had also been initiated at the Lighthouse in view of this transition, which was slowed down by the events of Monday.

Given that we are expanding the deposit and that we will receive more material, it was already planned that instead of doing a complete sorting […] we were going towards a presorting and transshipment site option.

While waiting for the reconstruction of the sorting center, recyclable materials from Sept-Îles and Port-Cartier will be processed in the secondary facilities of the Lighthouse, located in these two municipalities.

We don’t want it to have an impact on the [collecte]. But the message must be clear: good citizen participation is super importantinsists Mélanie Dorion.