Household waste disposal
Since April 1st, 2010, all in-trench landfill sites on the territory of the MRC have been closed. The local municipalities are responsible for the collection and/or reception of household waste at designated reception sites. The collected waste then transits through the transfer station in Clarendon, before being shipped to the technical landfill site in Lachute, Quebec. For the hours of operation of municipal reception sites, please contact your local municipality.
In the unorganized territory of Lac-Nilgaut, owners or managers of outfitters are responsible for the disposal of the grabage that their visitors generate on their territory. In controlled zones, waste generated in the ZEC of Rapides-des-Joachims can be brought to the Municipality of Rapides-des-Joachims reception site, from the ZEC Pontiac it can be brought to the Municipality of Mansfield reception site and residual materials generated on the territory of the ZEC Saint-Patrice can be brought to the Sheenboro reception site. A reception site is also provided for TNO users on Osborne road.
All other types of waste (institutional, commercial and industrial, construction and demolition) are managed privately or collected at the discretion of the local municipalities.
Given the low density of our population and the distance that our waste travels before final disposal, the residual waste management plan (PGMR) of the MRC Pontiac promotes local initiatives for waste reduction and small scale solutions to waste management.
Complete version of the PGMR (French only).
Recycling
According to Recyc-Québec, a provincial organisation mandated to manage recycling at the provincial level, every person in Québec produces on average, 724 kg of waste per year (2012). The composition of this garbage is organic matter (44%), paper/cardboard (19%), plastic (7%), glass (6%), metal (3%) and other materials (21%).
The 2011–2015 Action Plan of the Québec Residual Materials Management Policy aims at reducing waste produced to 700kg of waste per person and to recycle 70% of paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal waste produced. The summary of the action plan can be found here:
http://www.mddelcc.gouv.qc.ca/matieres/pgmr/plan-action_en.pdf
All municipalities in the MRC Pontiac have recycling programs. Some have door to door collection while others have bins for drop-off at local reception sites. Regardless of the system in place in your municipality, please recycle! Your local municipality can provide you with a list of items that are accepted.
Recycling Poster Printable Version
Composting
As part of the action plan mentioned above, a goal has been set to recycle 60% of organic waste. There are currently no separate organic waste collection programs, however many municipalities with reception sites offer green residue deposit (e.g.: leaves, grass, Christmas trees, brush). Home composting is strongly encouraged, with some municipalities selling composters or digesters to residents at a discounted price. Many residents in the MRC compost their organic waste for personal use.
Composting significantly reduces the amount of household waste that is generated, reducing transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions!
For more information on composting and how to start your own composter:
http://www.recyc-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/upload/Publications/le_compostage_facilite.PDF
Composting Poster – Printable Version
Hazardous Household Materials (HHM)
Collection depots for waste oil, empty paint cans, and batteries are provided at most reception sites, as well as at the transfer station. Contact your local municipality for information about what items are collected.
For more information or questions on waste management, contact Thierry Raimbault, Environment Coordinator 819-648-5689 ext. 128 (t.raimbault@mrcpontiac.qc.ca)
Survey on Agricultural Plastics
The management of agricultural plastics poses both economic and environmental issues.
- From an economic standpoint, the disposal of agricultural plastics comes at a cost to the producers. These producer costs are related to charges for a garbage bin or for the cost of disposal at a collection site (cost per weight and fuel).
- From an environmental point of view, the collection/valorisation of agricultural plastics has numerous positive impacts, mainly the reduction in the quantity of buried waste, the increase in the life time of landfill sites and improving the carbon footprint in general.
It is with both the perspective of environmental protection and economic savings that the MRC Pontiac created this survey. The objectives of the survey are to look at the volume of agricultural plastics in the area, to identify the current management practices and to know the needs of the producers in terms of managing their agricultural plastics.
Note: all of the individual data collected will remain confidential. The data will be treated and analyzed in a territory wide manner.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!
