Éco Entreprises Québec signs an initial series of contracts with sorting centres in Quebec
Yet another step forward in modernizing curbside recycling
Montreal, July 11, 2024 — Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) — the organization in charge of modernizing curbside recycling in Quebec — today announced that six contractual agreements have been signed with recycling sorting centres in the province. Four of these were concluded in the past few days with Société VIA, which operates four sorting centres. The two others have been inked with Récupéraction Centre-du-Québec and Récupération Frontenac. Together, these agreements cover 32% of the tonnage of recyclable materials to be processed in Quebec, starting January 1, 2025.
Highlights
- In accordance with the Regulation respecting a system of selective collection of certain residual materials, Éco Entreprises Québec is responsible for entering into agreements to sort recyclable materials and for working to increase performance and quality standards for the purpose of selling these materials to recyclers.
- On October 31, 2023, in the spirit of free and open competition, ÉEQ invited all sorting centres that process materials from municipal curbside recycling programs in Quebec to submit a proposal to sort curbside recycling materials. By March 25, 2024, ÉEQ had received proposals from 20 sorting centres.
- Following a review of these proposals by an expert team and meetings with the heads of the sorting centres, the ÉEQ Board of Directors authorized an initial six agreements to be signed, with terms varying from five to seven years.
- These agreements cover the processing of approximately 274,000 tonnes of recyclable materials, which represents a third of the total tonnage of curbside recycling in Quebec. Factoring in the construction and operation of the future sorting centre in the east end of the Island of Montreal, ÉEQ has thus far made deals to sort more than 50% of the tonnage of curbside recyclable materials in Quebec.
- The agreements with Société VIA cover the Capitale-Nationale, Chaudière-Appalaches and Bas-Saint-Laurent regions, with sorting centres in Quebec City, Lévis and Rivière-du-Loup, as well as a portion of Greater Montreal with a sorting centre located in the borough of Lachine.
- Récupéraction Centre-du-Québec is based in Drummondville, and Récupération Frontenac operates out of Thetford Mines, making it possible to serve most of the Chaudière-Appalaches, Estrie and Montérégie regions as well as Centre-du-Québec.
- Discussions are ongoing with other sorting centres that submitted proposals to ÉEQ to enter into agreements to cover the whole of Quebec.
- This announcement is one of the major steps that Éco Entreprises Québec will be taking as it modernizes curbside recycling in province, the official start of which is January 1, 2025.
Quotes
“Our Board of Directors awarded these first contracts after a rigorous process. Each organization’s social mission, facilities, equipment and practices were all carefully studied and assessed by the Board. The selected centres will be responsible for processing close to a third of the tonnage of recyclables to be processed as of January 1, 2025, making their role in the value chain a vital one. Éco Entreprises Québec considers this to be a significant step forward in modernizing the curbside recycling system.”
— Maryse Vermette, ÉEQ President and CEO
“At Récupéraction Centre-du-Québec, we are very pleased with this partnership with Éco Entreprises Québec to process the materials from curbside recycling programs in local municipalities and other nearby communities. The length of the agreement, the guaranteed tonnages and the prices that we have settled on will keep our organization running well into the future and attract additional investments, as we deliver on our commitment to meeting ÉEQ’s high quality standards.”
— Daniel Lemay, General Manager, Récupéraction Centre-du-Québec
“Récupération Frontenac is proud to be joining forces with Éco Entreprises Québec as we embark on this adventure. This new partnership will enable us to stay true to our social, economic and environmental priorities. It is important for us to continue to grow and provide opportunities for workers with functional limitations to be employed within a system operating in the social and circular economy. We are convinced that this new system will allow us to work together to provide an efficient service to residents as part of a high-valued-added business model.”
— Junior St-Cyr, General Manager, Récupération Frontenac
“I’m very happy with the agreements we have reached with Éco Entreprises Québec and proud of what we’re doing together. Through these partnerships, we will be able to manage curbside recycling effectively and continue to fulfill our social mission in the years to come. I see a bright future ahead for curbside recycling in Quebec, and it’s a tremendous honour for myself and the entire Société VIA team to be part of it!”
— Jean-Sébastien Daigle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer de Société VIA
1. Récupération Frontenac employs more than 110 people, including 75 living with functional limitations. At the signature of the contract, we recognize from left to right) Junior St-Cyr, General Manager of Récupération Frontenac, and Maryse Vermette, president and CEO of Éco Entreprises Québec.
2. Société Via aims to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities, while actively contributing to the preservation of the environment by promoting responsible recycling practices. At the Lachine sorting center, we recognize (from left to right) Mauro Pecchia, Production Supervisor, and Maxime Moisan, Plant Manager.
3. Established in Drummondville, Récupéraction Centre-du-Québec’s staff of over a hundred employees process 40,000 tonnes of residential, industrial and institutional waste every year.
About Éco Entreprises Québec
Since 2005, Éco Entreprises Québec, a private, non-profit organization, has been representing producers who market packaging, containers and printed matter in their responsibility to finance curbside recycling. Appointed as a producer responsibility organization (PRO) in 2022, ÉEQ is in charge of managing curbside recycling in Quebec from a sustainable development perspective.
As a leader in extended producer responsibility (EPR), ÉEQ develops, manages and advises its producer members on circular economy solutions to reduce their environmental footprint. To achieve this, ÉEQ places ecodesign, recyclability and traceability at the heart of its actions with its partners. ÉEQ will continue to fulfill its role as a PRO during the transition from the compensation plan to EPR curbside recycling.
About Société VIA
Société VIA is a committed player in the management of recyclable materials. With a mission focused on social inclusion, it stands out as an adapted company operating through its network of sorting centres. It aims to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities, while actively contributing to the preservation of the environment by promoting responsible recycling practices.
About Récupéraction Centre-du-Québec
Founded in 1982, Récupéraction Centre-du-Québec has played a leading role in putting recycling programs in place in many Quebec cities and towns. Its sorting centre boasts the latest equipment and state-of-the-art technology. It also operates an ecocentre serving Drummondville and surrounding communities. Récupéraction Centre-du-Québec’s staff of over a hundred employees process 40,000 tonnes of residential, industrial and institutional waste every year.
About Récupération Frontenac
Backed by 44 years of experience processing materials collected through residential and commercial curbside recycling, Récupération Frontenac is a disability-friendly social enterprise that employs more than 110 people, including 75 living with functional limitations. Their commitment to human-centric management and extensive experience in dealing with recyclables of all kinds make the company a shining example for other organizations in Thetford Mines and the Chaudière-Appalaches region as a whole. Some 30,000 tonnes of materials are processed every year by Récupération Frontenac’s dedicated staff using technologically advanced equipment.
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Source
Marie-Claude Rivet
Manager, Strategy and Public Affairs
514 987-1491, 237
mcrivet@eeq.ca