Environment
Protecting Our Natural Beauty
The MRC Pontiac is an extremely environmentally rich territory, with its many lakes and rivers, forests and other natural environments of incredible beauty.
There are over 4,000 lakes and rivers on the territory, the main ones being the Rivière des Outaouais, Rivière Coulonge, Rivière Dumoine, Rivière Noire and Rivière Quyon.
The forest environment is mixed, with a predominance of hardwoods, and supports varied and abundant fauna.
These aspects give the MRC Pontiac a distinct advantage for vacationers, recreational boaters and hunting, fishing and outdoor enthusiasts.
With knowledge of the delicate balance between human development and the protection of natural resources, the MRC Pontiac is involved in the preservation of the environment, notably through the exercise of its jurisdictions, namely :
– land use planning;
– watercourse management;
– waste management;
– tree planting and felling in private forests;
– management of the unorganized territory of Lac-Nilgaut.
Together, as a community, let’s create a sustainable future for the MRC Pontiac!
Watercourse Management
Effective January 1st, 2006, the MRC Pontiac has exclusive jurisdiction of watercourses on its territory under Sections 103 to 110 of the Municipal Powers Act (L.Q. 2005, Chapter 6). By-law Number 138-2008 to regulate all matters relating to the flow of watercourses within the MRC Pontiac was adopted in 2009, in order to better govern watercourses under this jurisdiction.
In order to effectively manage watercourses over its large territory, the MRC has signed an agreement with the municipalities to ensure proper water flow and to establish a framework for watercourse maintenance and improvement project procedures.
By adopting and following these regulations, we are providing protection and safety to our residents, as well as preserving the health of rivers and streams and their surrounding habitats. The MRC Pontiac is also a tourist destination renowned for our recreational water activities. Let’s preserve this natural resource!
In order to further protect our rivers, streams, and lakes, we need your help too!
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Guide to Sustainable Boating on the Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a major attraction for boaters. It offers unique landscapes and ideal conditions for a wide range of aquatic activities. However, boating can have negative environmental impacts on water quality and ecosystems, which in turn can be detrimental to recreational boating.
Consequently, boaters must opt for good environmental practices. The Ottawa Riverkeeper “Guide to sustainable boating on the Ottawa River” proposes actions that all boaters can adopt now to protect the health and richness of the Ottawa River waterway in perpetuity.
Most of the recommendations presented in this guide are also relevant to boating on other rivers and lakes in the MRC Pontiac territory.
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Protect Against Blue-Green Algae
Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, can be detrimental to lakes and waterways for several reasons. They produce toxins that can harm humans, animals, and aquatic life, and their rapid growth can deplete oxygen levels in the water, killing fish and disrupting the ecosystem. These blooms also lead to environmental imbalances, reduced biodiversity, aesthetic deterioration, and potential contamination of drinking water sources.
- La protection des lacs et cours d’eau : une nécessité pour lutter contre la prolifération des algues bleu-vert !
- Prévenir les effets des fleurs d’eau d’algues bleu-vert sur la santé
- Réduire ou prévenir les fleurs d’eau d’algues bleu-vert : par qui et comment?
- Vivre au bord de l’eau (Pêche et Océans Canada)
- Circulaire (version française)
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Septic Tank Maintenance
Quebec residents are required by regulation to empty their tank every two (2) years for permanent residents and every four (4) years for seasonal residents. See the Government of Quebec’s Regulation respecting waste water disposal systems for isolated dwellings.
- Guide-entretien-fosse-septique (Français)
- How to Maintain Your Septic Tank (English)
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Agricultural Watercourses
Here’s a practical guide to farmland cultivated beside a watercourse, produced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
- Cultiver au bord de l’eau – Pêche et océan Canada – (Français)
- Cultivating at the Water’s Edge – Fisheries and Oceans Canada – (English)
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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.
In line with the MRC Pontiac’s PGMR some municipalities are currently developing programs to collect organic matter, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, home composting is 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:
- Old electronic appliances;
- Used tires;
- Used oils, paints and other solvents;
- Used batteries;
- Fluorescent and mercury bulbs;
- Appliances containing fluorocarbons;
- Propane tanks.
Contact your municipality for information on accepted materials.
Climate Change and Climate Plan
In March of 2011, the MRC Pontiac adopted an Environmental Policy and committed to reducing greenhouse gases within the office, as well as raising public awareness. That same year, an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions at the municipal level was published, followed by the creation of an action plan to reduce emissions. Beginning in 2019, the MRC placed renewed emphasis on climate protection by updating these municipal inventories and creating awareness campaigns that can be used by both employees and citizens.
In 2024, the MRC Pontiac begins the process of adopting a climate plan. Propelled by the Conférence des préfets de l’Outaouais, the MRCs of Pontiac, Collines-de-l’Outaouais and Papineau formed a collaborative working group to develop their respective climate plans. The aim of this collaboration is to create a common basis for action on climate change issues.
In the interests of coherence and inclusiveness, the climate plans will be aligned with the initiatives of other climate action leaders in the Outaouais region, and will be the fruit of a concerted effort by all players in the community.
The development of the climate plans is fully supported by the Fonds région et ruralité of the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH), as well as the financial assistance program “Accelerating Local Climate Transition” (ATCL), launched last March by the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte aux changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP).
Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Resources
Accountability of the Transitional Regime
The Regulation respecting the provisional implementation of the amendments made by Chapter 7 of the Statutes of 2021 with respect to flood risk management (Transitional regime) came into effect on March 1, 2022. Municipalities and MRCs have reporting obligations with respect to the application of the Municipal Authorization Regime for activities carried out in water environments, as provided for in the transitional regime.
Municipalities must keep a register of authorizations issued under the transitional regime and transmit information on these authorizations to the MRC. Based on the information received from the local municipalities, the MRC Pontiac is responsible for publishing an annual report of authorizations issued by March 31 of each year.
The publication of this report must be present for a minimum of 5 years.
For more information on the transitional regime, we invite you to visit the Government of Quebec’s website on this subject.
