MRC Pontiac to enter agreement with Éco Entreprise Québec

Taylor Clark

MRC Pontiac residents can expect some changes in recycling collection come January 2025.

The MRC Pontiac Council of Mayors declared competence over all municipalities within its jurisdiction regarding the collection and transportation of recyclable materials at its meeting on February 21. This begins the first steps of entering an agreement with Éco Entreprise Québec.

Since October 2022, Éco Entreprise Québec has been deemed the management organization by the Government of Quebec to develop, implement, and financially support selective collection throughout the province.

Under the extended producer responsibility, Éco Entreprise Québec must establish new partnerships with municipal organizations to harmonize collection, simplify the process for citizens, and reduce the number of parties involved.

With the MRC of Pontiac as the municipal body under the agreement, municipalities will invoice the MRC for the local service provided. The invoices will then be sent to Éco Entreprise Québec for reimbursement.

The estimated reimbursement for the MRC was still unknown, said Francis Beausoleil, MRC of Pontiac strategic communication advisor.

Currently, some municipalities only have a voluntary system at drop-off stations for recycling. While internal municipal services were expected to expand under the agreement, Beausoleil said coordinating pick-up in these municipalities would need to be discussed once the agreement was official.

In the coming months, the MRC is expected to sign the agreement with Éco Entreprise Québec, adopt a bylaw concerning the competence, and publish a call for tender for collection and transportation.