The Residual Issue

Recently, the comprehensive report of the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) on the state of residual waste management made the news. "Residual waste" refers to materials that end up in landfills and incinerators (respectively 96% and 4% in 2019). The facts are overwhelming: the amount of waste in Quebec has increased significantly in recent years. We are going backwards instead of forwards.

According to the latest data, in 2019 724 kg/capita of waste was landfilled or incinerated.

The target for 2023 is set at 525 kg/capita.

In its report, the BAPE recommends, among other things, a change of strategy to focus on source reduction and reuse, the strengthening of laws and regulations and an increase in disposal fees. It also emphasizes the need to favour separate collection of certain recyclable materials to  allow  for quality recycling. It's time for the government to act!

Some Good News

The burden of recycling is no longer placed solely  on  the  shoulders of citizens. The government is adopting an extended producer responsibility approach, which means that companies that market the containers, packaging and  printed  materials covered by the new regulations will have more responsibility for recycling and valorization. The implementation of this reform will begin in the fall of 2022.

The modernization of the Quebec deposit system will be in place by spring 2023. The deposit will be extended to ready-to-drink beverage containers from 100 ml to 2 l inclusively. Once again, businesses will be required to contribute.