Evolution of curbside recycling: ÉEQ welcomes the potential solutions discussed at the broad consultation
Following the broad consultation on curbside recycling that brought together key industry stakeholders, Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) would like to commend the quality of the discussions and promising solutions advanced by participants and Isabelle Melançon, Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, in particular.
The talks served to highlight potential solutions that echo the concerns expressed by ÉEQ and the contributing companies that provide nearly $150 million annually to fund curbside recycling services and will foster the evolution of the current system. The proposed opportunities include:
- The need to increase and standardize the quality of sorting centre output materials to ensure outlets and reach long-term agreements.
- The importance of a material’s traceability throughout its life cycle to ensure the sustainability of the system and better track output tonnes. Traceability will guarantee that the materials placed in recycling bins actually end up at the conditioning or recycling centre—a key aspect for continued confidence in the system.
- Financial backing from governments to develop a circular economy to support the industry in the production of quality material.
“The day’s discussions, an initiative of the Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, are in line with the directions we have advocated for several years. We welcome the idea of an assessment to strengthen the recycling industry’s business model. These solutions have the potential to make the curbside recycling system a driving force of the circular economy, including all the associated green jobs and innovation across Québec,” affirmed Marie Julie Bégin, vice-president, Compensation Plan, Éco Entreprises Québec.
ÉEQ also reiterated its call on the Québec government to provide financial resources to implement emergency measures in the sorting centres that have integrated quality criteria and accountability measures.