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Who is Éco Entreprises Québec?

Éco Entreprises Québec, the new manager of modernized curbside recycling, is a private non-profit organization that represents companies commercializing containers, packaging, and printed paper in Quebec.

Our role

The Government of Québec has entrusted Éco Entreprises Québec with leading the curbside collection and processing of recyclable materials, to ensure greater efficiency.

Discover our role

Our story

Before being designated to manage the curbside recycling system, we worked for over 20 years representing brand owners, distributors or businesses that market containers, packaging, or printed matter in Quebec.

Here are some of our milestones.

2005

Foundation of Éco Entreprises Québec.

2007

The first fee structures, referred to as the Schedule of Contributions, came into force. These contributions are required from the producers, who are the companies that commercialize containers, packaging, and printed paper in Québec.

2011

First major public awareness campaign: Récupérer, c’est recréer (Recovering is recreating).

2013

The producers finance 100% of the collection, transportation, sorting, and conditioning costs for municipal curbside recycling.

2016

Éco Entreprises Québec unveils its Innovative Glass Works plan, aiming to modernize sorting centres to recycle 100% of the glass produced by Quebecers.

2018

Éco Entreprises Québec became a partner in the first study on the circular economy in Quebec, carried out by experts from the Institut de l'environnement, du développement durable et de l'économie circulaire (IEDDEC) and Polytechnique Montréal’s Groupe de recherche en gestion et mondialisation de la technologie, for a transition to a greener economy.

2020

The Quebec government announced the modernization of recycling services.

2021

  • Establishment of the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for the management of the curbside recycling system. Under EPR, companies are responsible for the containers, packaging, and printed paper they commercialize throughout their lifecycle. It aims to increase recycling rates through more efficient management of materials.
  • The ecodesign incentive bonus was launched to reward organizations for their ecodesign efforts. These organizations receive a credit on their contribution to finance the curbside recycling system.
  • Éco Entreprises Québec is appointed to Fondaction’s strategic committee on the circular economy, created by CSN.
2022

  • Éco Entreprises Québec was appointed as a Designated Management Organization (DMO) for the curbside recycling system. Its responsibilities include developing, implementing, and financing this system in collaboration with all stakeholders.
  • Co-direction of the documentary Tout déballer in collaboration with the UQAM School of Design and production of its English version, Unwrapping. The documentary follows the packaging journey from its selection and design to its market launch and eventual transformation for a second life.
2023

  • Matrec-GFL was selected to construct and operate a new sorting centre to serve the east end of the island of Montreal.
  • ÉEQ organized Packlab, Canada’s first collaborative laboratory for rethinking, reinventing, reducing, reusing, and recycling packaging from a circular economy perspective.
  • Production of a marketing guide was produced to integrate ecodesign into the packaging design process, aimed at companies that commercialize containers, packaging and printed paper.
  • A partnership agreement was reached with Circular Materials, an organization that develops, implements, and manages recycling programs across Canada.
2024

Bin Impact was launch to raise awareness and educate the public about the importance of putting the right materials in the bin.

2025

The modernized curbside recycling was implemented as well as the first changes associated with it.

Our Purpose

As a management organization chosen by contributing companies, Éco Entreprises Québec has the following Purpose:

"From curbside recycling to the circular economy: Together for a sustainable world."

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Our values

ÉEQ carries out its mission in accordance with the following principles:

  • Fairness: Ensure fair payment of what everyone owes.
  • Empowerment: Be a leader. Make the choices that need to be made, no matter how difficult, using all the means at̀ our disposal, and be accountable for our actions.
  • Vigilance: Always keep an eye to the future so we can be proactive rather than reactive and take appropriate measures from a circular economy perspective in support of a sustainable world.

A workplace that reflects who we are

The environment is at the very heart of our value system, and our work environment should be a reflection of that.

In 2017, our Montreal office renovation earned a LEED v4 ID+C silver certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, version 4, Interior Design and Construction).

Here are a few of the innovative features of this project:

  • Reuse of existing architectural elements
  • Reclaimed eco-materials made from collected recyclables
  • A design that fosters connection with nature

This recognition was not only given for the quality of the work, but for how we embody our values every day.

Our management committee

The members of our management committee come from diverse backgrounds and boast strong expertise to manage our organization and the activities we oversee.

Meet the team

Our governance structure

The members of our board of directors bring extensive experience to efficiently and rigorously manage the private nonprofit organization that is Éco Entreprises Québec.

See our governance structure