With the new year comes simplified recycling

Since 1^is January, no need to debate whether one object or another is recyclable with the coming into force of changes to selective collection across the province.

From egg boxes to potato chip bags, including oil bottles and magazines, all packaging, containers and printed matter can go to the blue bin.

Three exceptions remain: aerosols, polystyrene packaging and degradable plastic packaging.

This is theNPO private Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ), who inherited the responsibility for implementing a modernized system. These changes have been in the making for three years.

The reform that is taking place aims in particular to make companies responsible for their products, from their marketing to their recycling. They therefore pay a rate determined based on the volume of packaging placed on the Quebec market. The funds are then re-injected into the selective collection process.

No upheaval in collections

On the Islands and at the Gaspésie Intermunicipal Residual Materials Treatment Board (RITMRG), the collection schedule remains the same.

We have the pleasure of living on an island, but it also creates challenges in terms of residual materials management.explains the director of public works at the municipality of Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Caroline Richard. We package all materials, whether they are recyclable or for ultimate destination. We package all these materials in bales and ship them to the Victoriaville region.she continues.

The management of the new materials collected is therefore not an issue for the Municipality, since they continue their journey towards Centre-du-Québec.

Recycling without buyers

The situation is quite different in RITMRG. Its general director, Nathalie Drapeau, expressed initial fears when signing the agreement with ÉEQ.

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The situation is becoming simpler for citizens, but not for the Régie, which is gradually handing over the sale of recyclable materials to ÉEQ. There are no buyers yet for the newly admitted packaging. They therefore accumulate at the sorting center until direction is given to them by the new managers.

It is clear that for these matters, without a market, we will find ourselves with questions and calls for which we do not yet really have an “intelligent” answer to give.deplores Ms. Drapeau.

I can understand that citizens have been careful all their lives about what they put in the bin. There, they are told “yes you can put these materials in the bin”, but on the other hand, they may not end up where we want them to in the short term. This could perhaps lead to some dissatisfaction among [citoyens]she maintains.

The head of strategy and public affairsÉEQMarie-Claude Rivet, indicates that the organization is establishing business relationships with conditioners and recyclers. Yes, there are certain containers or packaging that will not be immediately recycled,” she confirms, but it is still important to place them in the recycling bin because it helps to increase volumes.

Marie-Claude Rivet affirms that this is what will help develop markets for future valorization.