RecycleMedias AGM: skyrocketing fees appear out of control

Quebec newspaper publishers met to recap the year in regards to RecycleMedias, December 7, in Montreal. In broad strokes, recycling fees are increasing, as mandated by the Ministry of Environment. The cash portion, compared to our exchanging publicity for our fees, will also be increasing. For 2017, the total due is $153.70 per tonne, $93.89 of which is due in cash. Compare this to the rate in 2014 that totalled $66.95 per tonne.

 

Faced with a newspaper situation in Quebec that saw 30 weeklies close in that time, resulting in a dramatic reduction in paper production in the province, the question of why the rates are skyrocketing was a major issue at the AGM. RecycleMedias was unable to answer this and other questions.

While the judicial authority to set rates and impose their payment method comes from the province, the actual costs of recycling newsprint are set by the municipalities. RecycleMedias’ executives met with UMQ and FQM (associations for urban and rural municipalities) to urge them to report “real costs” of recycling paper. The concern is the reported costs of recycling do not accurately reflect the reality of the material costs to cities and towns. The last meeting was Friday, December 9, 2016.

The sister organization to RecycleMedias, Éco Entreprises (handles the other 90% of material recycled in Quebec; with 10% being newsprint), is also meeting municipalities to urge them to bring their costs in line with what producers can pay; and to ensure the material is recycled at reasonable costs. The challenge of gathering recyclables from “blue boxes”, without the materials being damaged, impacts the costs of recycling, but municipalities pass along all these costs to RecycleMedias and Éco Entreprises. In the meantime, Éco Entreprises is delaying their December payment (RecycleMédias’ December payment is due on the 15 for members, with most papers having paid).

Complicating the problem

Quebec government lawyers are on strike, RecycleMedias board members told publishers at the AGM, complicating and delaying official responses to legal questions from both RecycleMedias papers and Éco Entreprises. One specific question requiring a response is about interest charges on delayed payments of fees. Members from both organizations feel they need answers to efficiency questions at the municipal level prior to paying; but most newspapers have decided to pay considering that no legal opinion is forthcoming from the government. Further to the high interest rate threat, the possibility of losing the publicity exchange portion of the payments due is a risk members do not want to take.

Publicity exchange: Websites and Newspapers

Newspapers were reminded at the AGM to ensure their website advertising options are known by the government’s advertising booking agency (Cossette, this year). Advertising in both print and web are options for the exchange portion of payments.

QCNA papers urged to meet MNAs

In 2016 each QCNA paper was asked to meet their local MNA to urge them to push for lower annual rate increases, more publicity exchanges, and a more responsible approach in general to members. Hebdos Quebec, the association of French weekly newspapers in Quebec, has done the same thing. Between the two associations, all MNAs should, by now, have met newspaper publishers. If any newspaper publishers have not met their MNA, the QCNA board asks they meet their provincial deputies without further delay.

RM Board elections

Elections for the RecycleMedias board of directors were held at this meeting. With only one seat for newspaper associations, a run-off was held for that seat. Gilbert Paquette, ED for Hebdos Québec and a highly knowledgeable and involved professional, won the seat. While he is an asset to all papers, this means QCNA lost its seat at the board. There were two seats open for independent newspapers with four people running; including Michael Sochaczevski, of the Suburban, nominated by Lily Ryan. However, Brian Myles, director at Le Devoir, and Marie-Andrée Prévost, director at VIVA média, were elected.