FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Curbside Recycling, Garbage and Organics Service
The Municipality wishes to provide clear information regarding the upcoming changes to waste collection in our area and explain why these changes are happening, what is mandated by the Province, and what remains under local control.
Province-Wide Reform:
The Government of Québec has modernized the entire recycling system under a “responsibility of producers” (REP) model.
- In 2020–2021, the National Assembly adopted the legislative and regulatory framework to modernize curbside recycling across Québec.
- On October 24, 2022, RECYC-QUÉBEC officially designated Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) as the organization responsible for managing the selective collection system for the whole province for 10 years.
- As of January 1, 2025, this modernized system is in force across Québec, and ÉEQ progressively takes over 100% of the costs of collection and transport of recyclable containers, packaging and printed matter.
In other words, door-to-door recycling is not a local initiative from our end. It is part of a province-wide reform that all municipalities and MRCs must now implement. Our job is to make sure we adapt this system to our local reality as best we can.
Role of the MRC Pontiac and Local Municipalities:
Under Québec law, each MRC must adopt a Residual Waste Management Plan (PGMR) and coordinate regional waste-management actions.
- The MRC Pontiac oversees waste management planning and regional contracts and services, while
- Local municipalities remain responsible for door-to-door collection and local transfer stations.
In its PGMR 2023–2030, the MRC set specific actions to:
- develop tools to estimate the costs of door-to-door collection;
- propose organics (compost) solutions adapted to each municipality;
- and gradually implement appropriate collection systems for organics.
In 2022, the MRC also circulated a regional survey about curbside collection and waste practices. This was part of the process leading up to the new provincial system, also serving as a consultation about how local municipalities could implement the service(s).
Why Municipalities Are Moving to 3-Streams (Garbage, Recycling, Organics):
Because ÉEQ is now covering the cost of recycling, and because the Province is requiring municipalities to improve organics collection by 2030, municipalities that didn’t already have curbside service are being encouraged to move toward a full three-stream model: garbage, recycling, and organics.
For our Municipality, this means trying to align the start of curbside recycling, garbage, and organics with the January 1st provincial timeline already in place through the ÉEQ.
What this means for our Local Transfer Sites:
Here is the current position on the future of local transfer sites:
- No immediate changes are planned to the operation of our transfer site(s).
- The future of these facilities will be reviewed after the curbside system is fully implemented and evaluated; however recycling and household waste service at the site is expected to be gradually phased-out.
- Bulky items, construction waste, scrap metal, appliances, and electronics will continue to be accepted locally. Our goal is to expand the list of accepted materials over time—not reduce it (ie: agricultural plastics, gently used item exchange, clothing, etc.).
The curbside system is designed only for regular household waste, recycling and organics, not for large or special items – we will continue to require a transfer site for this reason.
We Hear your concerns:
We know curbside collection isn’t simple in a rural setting. Residents have already raised important concerns—long driveways, seasonal roads, snowplows, wildlife, and mobility issues for seniors. These are all valid points, and we share these concerns.
As the system is rolled out, the Municipality will work with residents and the contractor(s) to find practical solutions. These solutions could include grouped bins at the ends of private roads, winter adjustments, and revisiting approaches as we see what actually works. We encourage your positive suggestions to find further solutions.
We are asking residents for patience and collaboration as we ALL adapt to this new provincial system together.
Delivery of Bins & Pick-Up Routes:
As part of the rollout of the new curbside collection system, residents will soon begin receiving their bins.
- Recycling bins are being delivered this week and next across the municipalities. These bins are purchased and provided under the provincial recycling system ÉEQ and managed by the MRC Pontiac.
- Garbage and organics (compost) bins are currently being procured directly by each municipality. Delivery of these bins will occur at a later date.
- Detailed instructions regarding pick-up days, routes, possible grouping points, and procedures for residents on private roads are currently being developed in collaboration with contractors and neighbouring municipalities.
- A clear list of accepted materials for each stream—recycling, garbage, and organics—will also be made available shortly, to help residents prepare for the transition.
Costs – Reducing Waste Matters More Than Ever:
We know residents are concerned about costs. While final numbers will be shared once contracts and grants are confirmed, there are a few things that we already know:
- Starting in 2025, ÉEQ will cover 100% of the costs for collecting and transporting recyclable materials. This means recycling does not add costs to the municipal budget. We are encouraging residents to recycle as much as possible so that this material stays out of household garbage.
- The Province provides financial support for organics (compost) through landfill-royalty redistribution and several grant programs. The better we do with organics, the more funding we can receive.
- The only stream that continues to cost municipalities money is household garbage going to landfill—and landfill costs keep rising every year. This is why it is so important that we all improve our sorting habits. Every bag of garbage we keep out of the landfill helps control long-term costs and benefits the environment.
We will share a full breakdown of costs and grants with residents as the program continues. Waste management costs are already high, municipal councils continue to work towards improving waste reduction strategies.
Ongoing Communication and Public Information:
The implementation of this provincial system is ongoing, and we are committed to keeping residents informed.
- As we receive more answers from ÉEQ, the MRC Pontiac and our service providers, we will continue to update residents through our usual communication channels – (websites, Facebook and local newspapers).
- We are planning an in-person information session on January 14, 2026 (details to follow) where residents will be able to ask questions, raise concerns, and obtain concrete details on how the service will work in practice.
No “Opting Out” of the Provincial System:
Because the new curbside recycling framework is set out in provincial law and regulation and managed by ÉEQ across Québec, individual municipalities and taxpayers cannot “opt out” of the recycling service once it is established.
Locally, Councils decided to take this mandatory service and improve it by adding garbage and organics into a unified model, and by working with neighbouring municipalities to reduce costs where possible.
It is worth noting that, as of 2024, amajority of municipalities in Québec – and already 9 of the 18 in the MRC Pontiac – are served partially or fully by door-to-door collection. The municipalities who continue to operate under the old method, will be required to comply with the provincial framework. Our region is therefore catching up to a standard that is already the norm across the Province.
Change Is Difficult, but Necessary:
We recognize that change is not easy — especially in rural communities where residents have managed their own garbage at local sites for decades, and where the current system is familiar and appreciated.
But this shift is happening across Québec and Canada, driven by the need to reduce landfill use, improve recycling results, and finally put in place a real solution for organics.
We firmly believe that, with good patience, flexibility, and cooperation between residents, the Municipality, the MRC and our partners, we can build a waste-management system that respects rural realities while meeting modern environmental standards.
Alicia Jones, DG
on behalf of Municipal Councils
L’Isle-aux-Allumettes
Chichester
Sources for further information:
Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ)
Québec’s Objectives on Waste management (French only) – several links to info
MRC Pontiac – Residual Waste Management Page and Plan (PGMR 2023–2030)
www.mrcpontiac.qc.ca/en/residents/environment/residual-waste/