Waste rules changing

Compostable materials are prohibited in garbage as of July 2018

As of July 2018, citizens cannot put cumbersome objects and construction residues with household waste materials.  The frequency in collecting household garbage will also be reduced in multi-unit residential buildings.  The 120-litre regulation for domestic waste will be enforced as of July 15, 2019.  Composting is obligatory for all residents effective July 15, 2018.  Residents will receive their bins between October and January of 2018.

 
The City is applying these measures in order to respect the objectives of the waste material management plan (PGMR) 2016-2020. The provincial government makes it mandatory for all Quebec municipalities to reduce their amount of waste materials.

 “Through these measures, Gatineau aims to reduce the volume of household waste by 45% by 2020’’, states Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, city councillor for the Plateau and president of the commission on the environment. “We encourage residents to get used to using their new 120-liter bins until 2019 before the City then starts imposing fines.’’

“Garbage collectors will open garbage bins and, if they find compostable materials, they will leave a courtesy note to the residents for them to comply,’’ states Ms Marquis-Bissonnette.

She denies the allegation that the City has decided to postpone the new regulation to another year.  ‘’We are not going back on our decision.  We are going forward with delays in its implementation,’’ she stated. “Nothing indicates that we are moving in the wrong direction.’’

The City does not see the success hoped for since composting was set up in 2010.  To date, only about 48% of households collect their compostable materials. 

The new bins that residents will be using represent a five-million-dollar expense for the City. The amount for fines related to composting have not yet been determined. 

(Trans.: CL)