FEBRUARY 18, 2016

VOL. 121
     
       
 
Editorial

On January 14, 2016, we proudly unveiled our Innovative Glass Works program, confirming once again our steadfast intention to optimize curbside recycling and find a solution for 100% of Quebec’s recovered glass.



ÉEQ’s contributing companies renewed their commitment to the curbside recycling system by going beyond their legal obligations and financing the plan with another $6.7 million. The strategic alliance forged between Quebec and Great Britain through this investment opened the door for Krysteline Technologies to implement its proven technology here in the province.



Focused on contributing to a green economy in Quebec, our plan also seeks to support both conditioners with the development of market outlets and Quebec equipment manufacturers for the testing of technologies as part of R&D projects. 



There’s no better way to start off the year than mobilizing industry to offer opportunities to Quebec businesses and finding environmentally-friendly solutions. We will continue working on these avenues for innovation, optimization and growth in 2016.



Maryse Vermette, President and CEO

    
Points raised during Schedule consultations still under review

The 2015-2016 Schedule of Contributions consultation meetings drew some comments and letters and subsequent meetings were held regarding, among other topics, increased rates for certain materials, the retroactive effect of the Schedule and the harmonization of material aggregates with other Canadian programs.



On January 22, 2016, the Board of Directors reviewed scenarios and additional analyses developed following the consultation meetings. Some aspects still need to be reviewed before the 2015-2016 Schedule of Contributions can be adopted and subsequently submitted to RECYC-QUÉBEC for analysis and recommendation to the government.



We are working as quickly as we can to provide the Board with all necessary information to take a position on the subject. A webinar will be organized to keep you abreast of developments.
 
 

2012 Schedule of Contributions: $1.86 million in credits to be issued soon

In compliance with Article 7 of the 2012 Schedule of Contributions, ÉEQ will be issuing credits totalling $1.86 million to companies who reported materials for 2012 but are not low-volume producers. Credit calculations are based on materials categories and prorated to quantities of materials reported, resulting in a $1.8 million credit for printed materials and $60,000 for containers and packaging. The credit will be applied to balances, if any, owed by companies or their upcoming 2015 invoice. Approximately 670 companies eligible for this adjustment will receive an e-mail in this regard during the week of February 22.

      
     
The Innovative Glass Works Plan has been launched

The Innovative Glass Works Plan was officially presented at a press conference in Montréal on January 14, 2016. This concrete solution for recycling 100% of glass collected via curbside recycling involves the modernization of sorting centres and financial support for developing new market outlets that give recovered glass a second life. To support the plan, a strategic partnership was established with Krysteline Technologies, a British company offering technology that takes up the challenge of single-stream materials collection, and with Machinex, a major Quebec equipment manufacturer who will be Krysteline Technologies’s North American distributor. A webinar for sorting centre officials was organized following the announcement on January 28 to provide answers to questions relating to the first part of the Plan, which consists in sorting centre demonstration projects.
     
    
ÉEQ on Bye bye 2015

Recycling was featured during Radio Canada’s flagship show Bye bye 2015 on December 31. ÉEQ’s ad about curbside recycling financing that featured Éric Salvail inspired a funny segment showing former Prime Minister Stephen Harper trying to recycle himself after losing the elections. A must-see!
     
     
ÉEQ presents the ABCs of recycling bins on Marina Orsini’s show

Ecodesign Advisor Geneviève Dionne appeared on Marina Orsini’s January 28, 2016, show to talk about what should, and shouldn’t, be placed in recycling bins. She also talked about the second life given to the materials Quebecers recycle, including glass that is already used as an additive in sidewalks and perhaps soon in road asphalt! The interview is available on Radio-Canada’s site.
  
  

ÉEQ partners shine in Quebec and abroad:

$2.6 million investment at the Récup Estrie sorting centre in Sherbrooke

The Régie de récupération de l’Estrie (Récup Estrie) has anounced a $2.6 million investment to modernize its facilities. Last fall’s renovations increased the Sherbrooke sorting centre’s recyclables processing capacity and also improved the quality of certain sorted materials.



Groupe Machinex, who is one of our members, was given the mandate to modernize Récup Estrie with the installation of a new ballistic machine to separate mixed fibre containers and increase the efficiency of container sorting, among other improvements.



$3 million in investments for Société V.I.A. installations

Last January, Société V.I.A. Inc. and RECYC-QUÉBEC announced a major $3 million investment to improve the quality of newspaper sorting.



The investment allowed for the acquisition of new state-of-the-art equipment that uses compressed-air optical scanners. This ultra-modern equipment increases the quality of sorted newspaper and therefore increases operational profitability, which will be reinjected in the continuous improvement of the installations. The plan also resulted in the creation of six new permanent jobs.



And in the United Kingdom…



Last January, Machinex also opened two avant-garde sorting centres that were specially designed for the United Kingdom. Able to handle over 230,000 tonnes of residential and commercial recycling and waste each year, these unique centres consist in sophisticated treatment and processing units that will considerably increase recycling rates in England’s Wakefield District and redirect approximately 95% of waste from landfill sites.
  
  

ÉEQ participates in Québec City’s waste management plan

ÉEQ made a submission to the Québec City Metropolitain Community for its metropolitan residual materials management plan during public consultations held on February 11, 2016. Representatives of such organizations as the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), the Association des détaillants en alimentation du Québec (ADAQ), the Conseil des entreprises en technologies environnementales du Québec (CETEQ), the Regroupement des récupérateurs et des recycleurs de matériaux de construction et de démolition du Québec (3R MCDQ) and the Conseil patronal en environnement du Québec (CPEQ) were also present.

 

Consultation attendees expressed their readiness to improve away-from-home recycling, and commissioners showed interest in the Innovative Glass Works Plan. Finally, ÉEQ reiterated its intention to cooperate with the Community’s officials in the future.
  
  

  

Best Practices Initiative going strong throughout Quebec

In January, the Best Practices team visited Chandler and Gaspésie and, in February, Orford in the Eastern Townships. A follow-up meeting of the ever-popular workshops will be held in coming months. Topics discussed include measures to improve performance, away-from-home materials recovery, the benefits of grouping municipalities for materials collection and better-designed requests for proposals.



Next, the team will be in Drummondville to meet with people from Centre du Québec and Mauricie (February 23) as well as Rouyn-Noranda for people from Abitibi-Témiscamingue (March 10).

  
  

Survey: Quebecers and away-from-home materials recovery

We know that Quebecers are materials recovery champions at home. Wondering whether they continued those good habits when they are in public places, ÉEQ ordered the very first CROP Inc. survey on the subject. The results, released on February 18, show that many people use public recycling equipment, mainly for disposing of water bottles, when bins are nearby and that three out of four Quebecers would like to have more bins made available in such public places as parks, libraries and shopping centres. For more details, see the press release and infographic.
  
  

Tri-logique program: Raising public awareness for a second year!

Éco Entreprises Québec is a proud partner of Réseau Environnment’s Tri-logique program to help municipalities reach their environmental objectives by raising public awareness about sound residual materials management. Back for a second summer season, awareness representatives will crisscross Quebec from Mary 2 to August 5, 2016, to give people of all ages tips and advice on how to dispose of everyday residual materials.



For more information, visit Tri-logique’s website.

  
  
Éco Entreprises Québec is on Linkedin and Facebook!

Follow us to learn about the latest packaging optimization ideas, news from our partners and the many initiatives ÉEQ implements to improve curbside recycling.
     
     
 
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.
© Éco Entreprises Québec 2014 – All rights reserved, 1600 boul. René-Lévesque, Ouest, Montreal, Québec H3H 1P9



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