The City launches the procedures for a new residual materials management plan
The new Residual Materials Management Plan must be in effect no later than October 31, 2023.
Share November 11, 2020 3:00 a.m. Share The City is launching the process for a new Residual Materials Management Plan
Jonathan Custeau La Tribune The City of Sherbrooke is launching the process for the development of a new Residual Materials Management Plan (PGMR). The document, which aims, among other things, to set targets for the quantity of materials eliminated by residents, must be in force no later than October 31, 2023. Public consultations are already planned … for the winter of 2022.
The president of the environment committee, Karine Godbout, reports that the city must review its plan every seven years. “It's a plan that sets the stage for objectives, measures and actions for better management of our residual materials. In recent years, we have added measures such as the collection of mattresses, the collection of organic waste in schools and support for eco-responsible events. We have also been a pioneer in residential collection. The PGMR is an opportunity to give ourselves a game plan for the next actions that we must take. “
The PGMR must meet the objectives of the 2019-2024 Action Plan of the Québec Residual Materials Management Policy and the Organic Matter Recovery Strategy of the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change. It has four objectives, five measures and 23 actions.
These objectives include, among other things, reducing the amount of material eliminated per capita to 525 kg or less, recycling 75% of paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and metal, recycling 60% of organic materials and recycling and recover 70% of construction, renovation and demolition residues.
By way of comparison, in the current PGMR, Sherbrooke's objective was to reduce the quantity of material eliminated per inhabitant to less than 450 kg. Marie-Andrée Charron, environmental project officer, mentions that the average was 551 kg per capita in 2018.
The measures suggested concern the modernization of management systems for recyclable materials, the reduction of plastics and single-use products, the recovery of organic materials, the development of recovery channels and assistance to isolated communities.
The measures added to the PGMR will be influenced by the government's intention to modernize deposit and selective collection systems and by the possible ban by 2030 of certain single-use plastics, in particular for plastic bags, straws, mixing sticks, utensils and food containers.
The first filing of the PGMR is scheduled for August 2021 for public consultations in winter 2022. To remain eligible for royalties from the Ministry of the Environment, the document must be in effect on October 31, 2023.
Karine Godbout agrees that Sherbrooke had ambitious goals in the past and that she was a pioneer in the implementation of the compost bin. “We will have to see the objectives that will lead to a rewriting of the plan. We have a lot of requests for organic materials in multi-unit housing, industries, businesses and institutions and in restaurants. The entire population must be made aware of three-way collection. We will also need to work upstream in the choices we all make whether or not to buy certain products. “
Évelyne Beaudin asked if there were plans to municipalize the collection of all residual materials in the territory. “Without saying that we exclude it out of hand, we will have to analyze this possibility according to the requirements of the ministry. It's not impossible, but I wouldn't say it's possible either. There are a lot of things for which we do not yet have answers ”, indicates Ingrid Dubuc, director of the Environment Office.
Marc Denault suggests getting a helping hand from the government to expand the bulk sale of windshield washer fluid.
In the same vein, Paul Gingues indicated that he would like more help from the government. “They are demanding in their standards, but not very generous in their help. “
Finally, Nicole Bergeron recalled that waste management is worth its weight in gold and that it is a fascinating subject that must be addressed, and not just concerned.
