Categories: Legislative, Regulatory, & Legal News
Date: May 19, 2011
Title: Quebec Updates Recycling Goals
Quebec has updated its recycling plan, which includes a ban on landfilling organics by 2020....
Environment Minister Pierre Arcand announced Quebec's new recycling plan for 2011-2015. It includes more than $70 million in new investments. According to the Ministry, "many elements impact biosolids.... - "Municipal biosolids and other residuals (e.g. paper mill solids) are referenced.
- "The use of biosolids, other residuals, composts, and digestates are considered 'recycling,' and thus are elevated to a high level [in the heirarchy of reduce, reuse, recycle, etc.,], higher than combustion for energy production.
- "By 2015, a minimum of 60% of organic residuals, including biosolids, should be recycled...
- "Beginning in 2020 there will be a ban on organics going to landfills or incineration, if the combustion process is not considered a beneficial use in the sense of the 3R heirarchy."
The Ministry has already taken steps to encourage recycling of organics. "A 2006 regulation introduced a province-wide $10 per tonne landfill surcharge on biosolids. An additional surcharge of $9.50 per tonne was added in 2010. That additional surcharge runs through 2015."
In addition, the Province offers a subsidy of up to 50% for eligible composting and biogas projects.
For information on other steps to put into action the intentions of the updated recycling plan, see here.