Frequently asked questions for municipal bodies

No. Éco Entreprises Québec does not have to approve your guides and tools. It is your responsibility to ensure they are compliant. Éco Entreprises Québec can make sure that the vocabulary and iconography used comply with standards if you have doubts about some aspects.

If you have a question:

1. Send your tool to modernisation@eeq.ca
2. Indicate the page you have questions about

Specify your question.

It’s a contractual obligation—the conditions in the agreement apply. Under the partnership agreement, your organization must:

• Regularly disseminate information regarding curbside recycling;
• Inform the clients served when adjustments are made to the curbside recycling service;
• Use the identified vocabulary, the designated names of the materials covered, and the provided pictograms.

It’s a contractual obligation—the conditions in the agreement apply.

Éco Entreprises Québec recognizes that the full modernization of municipal bodies’ tools and websites will happen gradually. In accordance with the partnership agreement, you are nonetheless asked to make the required changes as soon as possible. Contact our team at modernisation@eeq.ca if you have any questions or doubts.

For the sake of uniformity, all communications must be adjusted (e.g., vocabulary, illustrations) by January 1, 2025, in line with the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Even if your agreement starts later in the year, the transition must be anticipated to meet this timeline.

Éco Entreprises Québec has developed resources that can be used as is. However, if you want to adapt them to your existing tools, it is crucial to follow the guidelines in the Digital Toolkit User Guide, particularly the standardized vocabulary. When integrating them into your tools, it is recommended to use the visuals provided by Éco Entreprises Québec. The logo can be placed on the page dedicated to curbside recycling or where you list the logos of your partners.

Bin Impact is Éco Entreprises Québec’s citizen brand. It is recommended to use the Bin Impact logo on your tools.

In your communications to citizens about curbside recycling, use the Bin Impact logo. A courtesy ticket has been prepared and is part of the digital toolkit.

Yes. The Bin Impact logo should be present on pages dedicated to curbside recycling. It can be placed either on the introduction page for waste management or specifically in sections dealing with selective collection.

The logo can be placed in the section of the document that specifically addresses curbside recycling, or with other logos at the end of the document, whichever is more relevant and visually balanced.

Yes. If the logo cannot be used, a text mention is an acceptable alternative, provided the standardized wording is respected:

Bin Impact, Éco Entreprises Québec’s new reference for curbside recycling.

It’s better to use the title “Containers, Packaging, Printed Paper.” All containers, packaging, and printed paper can be put in the recycling bin—whether they are recyclable or difficult to recycle—except for three materials (expanded polystyrene, aerosols, and compostable/degradable plastics).

Publishing the list of containers, packaging, and printed paper accepted in curbside recycling is the first step toward standardizing sorting behaviour.

Yes. You may use the tools as is on your website.

You may include information about curbside recycling in documents dealing with residual materials management, provided you use standardized vocabulary and visuals when discussing curbside recycling. If done in a broader context, integration must remain consistent with Éco Entreprises Québec’s communication rules.

Yes. Éco Entreprises Québec has made available the source files for the tools it has prepared.

The “Containers, Packaging, Printed Paper” visual is available in the social media toolkit.

The “Ça va où?” app will indeed be updated to reflect changes related to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). All containers, packaging, and printed paper that must go in the bin will be integrated and updated in the app to ensure that citizens have accurate, uniform information about the new recovery guidelines.

This update will support the harmonization of recovery behaviour across Québec, aligned with Bin Impact’s new standards.

All our tools are translated and available on Éco Entreprises Québec’s website.

We have annual awareness campaigns by Bin Impact, Éco Entreprises Québec’s citizen brand and the reference for curbside recycling in Québec

Éco Entreprises Québec plans to develop additional tools to recover more and better, everywhere. You will be informed directly when new tools are prepared.

Yes. Éco Entreprises Québec provides a distribution schedule on page 36 of the Digital Toolkit User Guide.

These roles and responsibilities are based on the Modernized Curbside Recycling System:

Éco Entreprises Québec:

• Decides which materials are accepted in the bin.
• Orchestrates national-level communication through its citizen brand, Bin Impact, the reference for curbside recycling.
• Intervenes in the public sphere on current issues regarding curbside recycling as the producer responsibility organization (PRO).
• Supports and equips municipal bodies by providing tools and communication materials to assist public interactions.

Municipal bodies:

• Responsible for frontline service for the collection and transportation of recyclable materials.
• Provide relevant collection information to their citizens, directly or via external service providers.
• Use the material provided by Éco Entreprises Québec and regularly refer to the municipal section of its website.

While no longer responsible for producing advertising campaigns, they retain the prerogative to communicate with their citizens about curbside recycling.

Éco Entreprises Québec’s national communication efforts will focus mainly on increasing the quantity and quality of materials placed in the bin, leveraging the Bin Impact citizen brand.

It is strongly recommended that municipal bodies continue explaining the changes to their citizens as soon as possible, whether through newsletters, citizen communications, or social media.

Éco Entreprises Québec, a private non-profit organization, is the new manager of the entire curbside recycling system across the territory and represents the companies that place containers, packaging, and printed paper on the Québec market.

Changes will transform the recyclable materials management system to make it more efficient and sustainable:

• All containers, packaging, and printed paper will be accepted.
• A single list of recovered materials for all of Québec. This will create larger volumes enabling markets for recyclable materials.
• All costs of curbside recycling programs are covered by the producers of containers, packaging, and printed paper.
• Adoption of the blue bin throughout Québec.
• Standardized messages and visuals to simplify citizens’ lives.
• A modified collection frequency adapted to ground realities.
• Companies that place containers, packaging, and printed paper on the market in Québec are now responsible for managing them at end of life (principle of Extended Producer Responsibility).

Our ambition is to enable Quebecers to recover more and better, ensure a second life for recyclable materials, and contribute to the circular economy across the province. Bin Impact, the new reference for curbside recycling in Québec, aims to educate people on proper sorting and raise awareness about the impact of what goes into the bin. Éco Entreprises Québec becomes fully responsible for the curbside recycling system in Québec as of January 1, 2025—from collection through to the second life of recyclable materials.

The shift to “Containers, packaging, printed paper—that’s all” may generate some resistance and concerns among citizens, given the habit of recovering a larger number of materials. To mitigate these concerns, it is all the more important to rigorously follow the provided standards and guidelines so that all stakeholders convey a uniform message. This will help create consistency in communications and gradually embed these new practices into people’s habits. A smooth adoption relies on clarity, repetition, and simplicity of messages, as well as on supporting citizens throughout this transition.

No, no templates have been developed yet for sorting stations in outdoor public spaces. Until Éco Entreprises Québec implements (in 2027) its service plan for outdoor public spaces, the signatory organization will continue servicing outdoor public spaces already covered using the existing signage and recovery equipment. This must be done in compliance with the criteria set out in section 25.1 of the partnership agreement, which notably states the following regarding signage: “The recovery equipment bears specific signage intended for users, including both written information and pictograms, including the Möbius strip, to clearly distinguish the collection stream for Recyclable Materials from other collection streams.”

No specific templates have been developed. However, as with your website, all communication tools—including indoor signage for sorting stations or other—will eventually need to be adapted in line with the standardized vocabulary and the visuals prepared in accordance with the Bin Impact brand identity.

A precautionary approach is warranted here. Avoid redoing all your sorting-station signage, particularly for outdoor public spaces, until Éco Entreprises Québec follows up with its implementation plan for servicing outdoor public spaces, which will also address the question of signage.

The appendix list is not intended for the public. It is used to specify all accepted materials for municipalities and sorting centers that have an agreement with Éco Entreprises Québec. Éco Entreprises Québec is relying on the “Containers, packaging, printed paper—That’s all.” approach. It is simpler for citizens to understand and represents what is predominantly generated by everyday products or services.

Some containers, packaging, and printed paper are not yet recycled, but putting them in the bin helps increase volumes, which supports the development of markets for their future recovery.

No, plastic utensils must not be placed in the recycling bin as of January 2025. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation provides that these single-use residual materials used for the preparation or consumption by the end user of a food product must be accepted no later than January 1, 2029. Éco Entreprises Québec will prepare and distribute new tools at that time.

As indicated in the “best practices” of the standardized list of containers, packaging, and printed paper accepted in curbside recycling, or on the Bin Impact site, lids must be removed from jars and containers, except for small caps (less than 5 cm in circumference), which must remain on their original container so they do not fall through the sorting equipment.

No, citizens do not need to compact containers before placing them in the recycling bin. However, it is recommended to break down boxes to optimize space in the bin.

Éco Entreprises Québec is responsible for communicating information about materials covered by curbside recyling. AQRCB is responsible for promoting recovery actions for deposit containers. If deposit containers are placed in selective collection, they will be recycled.

Two types of polystyrene will be accepted in the recycling bin as of January 2025: small yogurt containers (rigid polystyrene) and white or colored food trays (extruded polystyrene). Protective polystyrene packaging, identifiable by its tendency to break into beads, must be dropped off at a collection point, provided it accepts this material. A suggested social media message has been provided to inform the public.

Yes, your municipality may continue this voluntary drop-off collection of polystyrene.

No. Although a cooler may be seen as a container, it is designed for long-term use and therefore does not fall under the definition of containers covered by curbside recycling.

If you have any questions: For questions related to the toolkit, write to modernisation@eeq.ca with details of your request. A member of the Municipal Partnerships team will respond. 

For questions regarding national awareness campaigns, write to ajmaltais@eeq.ca. A member of the Communications team will assist you.

This financial agreement allowed you to:

• Quickly confirm whether you are availing yourself of the order in Council. This intention must have been communicated to us as soon as possible;
• Confirm that your current contract continued as is until its date of expiry indicated in Appendix C of the financial agreement;
• Agree on the financial terms applicable to your collection and transportation (CT) contract that continues beyond December 31, 2024, considering that the compensation plan ends on that date;
• Be in compliance with section 20 of the Regulation respecting a selective collection system for certain residual materials, which states that Éco Entreprises Québec must enter into a financial agreement with municipal bodies that have a contract ending after December 31, 2024.

Mainly, the Order in Council aimed to give municipal bodies more time to carry out their upcoming tendering (EPR) processes within the framework of the partnership agreement that Éco Entreprises Québec must conclude with them under the new extended producer responsibility (EPR) regime, by postponing the date from December 31, 2024, to December 31, 2025, as set out in sections 17 and 18 of the Act to amend mainly the Environment Quality Act with respect to deposits and selective collection.

For more information on the Order in Council, please consult the presentation by the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks and contact them directly. You can also consult Muni-Express No. 3 – March 22, 2024 – Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Any municipal organization or Indigenous community whose collection and transport (CT) contract may continue beyond December 31, 2024, either because it was awarded before September 24, 2020, or under Order in Council No. 1875-2023 (Official Gazette of January 10, 2024).

It remains your responsibility to ensure that postponing your contract end date is legally possible, both under the Order in Council and your contract.

Municipal bodies or Indigenous communities that wished to avail themselves of the Order in Council had until June 30, 2024, to conclude a financial agreement with Éco Entreprises Québec.

No. Only collection and transportation (CT) contracts entered into with a third party are covered by the Order in Council. Services performed in-house must be the subject of a partnership agreement.

Yes.

Éco Entreprises Québec will reimburse you for:

• Collection and transportation (CT) contracts only;
• Only the CT portion of combined contracts (CTTC, multiple collection streams), if and only if it is possible to separate the specific costs for CT of recyclable materials (distinct prices on the price schedule).

The sorting and conditioning component had been handled by Éco Entreprises Québec since January 1, 2025. The deadline for these contracts remained December 31, 2024, for contracts concluded before September 24, 2020.

There were two scenarios based on your contract start date: existing contract or new contract.

Existing contract: Any contract that began before January 1, 2025, whose end date is after December 31, 2024, with or without an extension option.

• Éco Entreprises Québec reimbursed the actual cost paid by the signatory organization to its supplier under the existing contract;
• Reimbursements were made four times a year (section 19.1).

New contract: Any new contract beginning between January 1 and December 31, 2025, whether awarded by mutual agreement, invitation, or public tender.

• Minimum compensation provided for in section 22 of the Regulation respecting a selective collection system for certain residual materials;
• The calculation was based on the average compensation received between 2022 and 2024 for these services;

Payments were made once a year (section 19.2).

An extension option provided in your current contract constitutes an existing contract.

If your current contract contains no clause allowing it to be extended and you must therefore award a new contract for the period between January 1 and December 31, 2025, then it is a new contract.

These are two separate and complementary agreements.

Given the complexity of the different scenarios and the time required to adapt each partnership agreement accordingly, it was more efficient for Éco Entreprises Québec to proceed this way.

The amounts specified in Appendix H were payable to the signatory organization of the partnership agreement, whether or not a financial agreement had been signed.

No. Éco Entreprises Québec will not assume any fees, penalties, or other potential damages associated with modifying the contract end date under the decree.

Yes. The financial agreement must be approved by resolution. You must send the duly completed and signed financial agreement, along with the resolution, by email to modernisation@eeq.ca.