Residual and Recoverable Material Management
Under the Environment Quality Act (EQA), regional municipalities are required to plan the management of residual materials throughout their territory by drawing up a residual materials management plan (RMMP). The aim is to ensure integrated management of residual materials in accordance with the orientations of the Quebec Residual Materials Management Policy (PQGMR) and its action plan, as well as the strategies derived from it.
Municipalities are responsible for door-to-door collection and/or reception of residual and recoverable materials at designated transfer points. Residual materials, i.e. ultimate waste, are then transferred to the Centre FilloGreen transshipment center in Litchfield, before being transported to the designated landfill site in Lachute, Quebec.
In 2024, the MRC Pontiac included 15 municipalities with a transfer station, which generally also serve as ecocenters or drop-off point for voluntary waste disposal. To date, the MRC has nine municipalities that are served either in part or in total by door-to-door collection. Please contact your municipality to find out about opening hours and collection procedures.
In addition, the MRC Pontiac offers users of unorganized territory (TNO) the possibility of depositing their residual and recoverable materials at one of the 4 transfer sites adjacent to the territory, in one of the following municipalities: Otter Lake, Mansfield-et-Pontefract, Rapides-des-Joachims and Sheenboro. These transfer sites are located on the main roads serving the TNO to optimize service geographically for TNO users.
If you have questions about recoverable or compostable materials or your household hazardous waste (HHW), download the “Ça va où?” app as a starting point!
Recoverable Material
Since 2022, the Regulation on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for selective collection has been in force. This regulation entrusts the life-cycle management of containers, packaging and printed matter to the producers who market them. Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) is the designated management organization (DMO) representing these producers. Since January 2024, ÉEQ has signed over 130 partnership agreements with municipal organizations responsible for managing recyclable materials, including one with the Pontiac MRC.
As of January 2025, the implementation of EPR for material recovery will standardize recovery efforts across Quebec. From now on, the Bin Impact program will be the benchmark for recycling, no matter where you are in Quebec.
All 18 municipalities in the MRC Pontiac have material recovery programs in place for containers, packaging and printed materials. Some have decided to introduce door-to-door collection, while others offer voluntary drop-off points. Regardless of the type of collection used in your municipality, the entire MRC Pontiac is subject to the “Bin Impact” program.
Once collected recoverable materials, i.e. containers, packaging and printed materials (CPP), are sent to Tricentris in Gatineau to be sorted and, when possible, recycled or recovered.
Composting
Did you know that? Approximately 47% of your residential waste can be composted!
Composting your organic waste is an important gesture: it’s your contribution to the well-being of the environment. This simple action helps to reduce the amount of material sent for disposal, and thus the negative environmental impacts of landfilling or incineration, such as the emission of powerful greenhouse gases.
What’s more, the return of organic matter to the soil in the form of compost contributes to soil health and plant growth.
As part of the mrc Pontiac’s PGMR, some municipalities are currently developing organic waste collection programs. Stay tuned and contact your municipal office to find out if your municipality is participating and, if so, when the program will start.
Regardless of whether your municipality participates in the brown bin program, home composting is always strongly encouraged.
Consult your municipal offices to find out about your options.
Hazardous Household Materials
Ranging in diversity, household hazardous waste (HHW) can be anything from pesticide residues, oils and paints, to electronics and medication. HHW are substances or objects that are toxic, explosive, flammable or corrosive. Some HHW are covered by extended producer responsibility (EPR), for which one or more coordinated recovery programs exist throughout Quebec.
When disposing of hazardous household products, it is essential to follow the appropriate guidelines and regulations to ensure the safety of the environment and people.
If you have any questions about waste management, please contact our environmental coordinator:
Nina Digioacchino, at 819-648-5689 ext. 128, or by e-mail at n.digioacchino@mrcpontiac.qc.ca.
Drop-off points are available at most transfer centers in the MRC Pontiac for your:
Contact your municipality for more information on accepted materials.
