Curbside Recycling Ambassadors Program: Étienne Dano sends an invitation to teens
Montréal, October 13, 2015 – During Youth Centre Week from October 12 to 18, 2015, Étienne Dano, the spokesperson for the Regroupement des maisons de jeunes du Québec, is calling on teens to participate in the Curbside Recycling Ambassadors Program. As the instigator of the program, Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) is proud to offer financing of up to $4,000 to youth centres wishing to implement a project that promotes recyclables recovery in their municipality’s public places.
“Having worked as a youth centre counsellor, it’s easy for me to vouch for teens’ involvement in social causes and the subjects they find worthwhile, such as the environment,” said Étienne Dano. “Our youth want to do the right thing and be heard. Unfortunately, the money needed to carry out their projects is often scarce. And that’s where the Curbside Recycling Ambassadors Program comes into play.”
As an added incentive to encourage participation in the program, Étienne Dano has agreed to visit two youth centres randomly selected from all those having submitted a project by December 15, 2015.
To date, over 200 teens have contributed to projects, either by taking an inventory of public places needing recovery equipment or by developing awareness activities to impress on the public the importance of away-from-home recycling. For example, the team at Maison de jeunes La Baie in the Saguenay produced a humorous short film to raise public awareness about recycling. Their video was even presented at the Saguenay’s Festival du court métrage, as well as in various media and schools in the city. The Maison des jeunes Trait d’Union in Victoriaville also came up with an innovative project with the creation of the three mascots, Compostine, Gilbert Le Vert and Papoubelle, who participated in various events in the region.
“We all know that young people influence their family’s habits,” said Virginie Bussières, Director, Communications and Public Affairs at Éco Entreprises Québec. “That’s why we wanted to involve them in promoting good recycling habits both at home and elsewhere. We are extremely pleased with the projects teens have come up with over the past few months, not to mention their impressive creativity and commitment.”
How to participate in the program
Youth centres may submit their project on the Curbside Recycling Ambassadors Program website at www.ecoentreprises.qc.ca/ambassador. Information is provided about projects implemented to date as well as conditions for applying and receiving financial assistance and much more.
About Éco Entreprises Québec
Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) is the organization that develops the Schedule of Contributions and collects company contributions, which are then redistributed to finance municipal curbside recycling services in Quebec. ÉEQ also encourages innovation and sharing of best practices in order to optimize the recyclable materials value chain. To do so, ÉEQ cooperates, on the one hand, with companies to reduce quantities of materials at the source and encourage the use of recyclable materials, as well as with municipalities to increase recycling and the economic value of recovered materials. ÉEQ is a private non-profit organization created by companies that put containers, packaging and printed matter on Quebec’s market to represent them. The organization was accredited by RECYC-QUÉBEC in 2005 in accordance with the Environment Quality Act.
Request for interview:
Sarah Cope Corbeil
Torchia Communications
sarah@torchiacom.com
514-987-8290, ext. 222
Source and information:
Virginie Bussières
Director, Communications and Public Affairs
Éco Entreprises Québec
514-987-1491, ext. 225