Québec Policy on Residual Materials

Policy Goals

The residual materials management policy reflects the government’s intent to build a green economy. The approximately 13 million tons of residual materials that are produced in Québec each year hold an undeniable potential for being used in manufacturing as well as in the production of energy.

This policy seeks to create a waste-free society that looks to maximize added value through intelligent management of its residual materials. Its fundamental goal is for ultimate residue to be the only residual material disposed of in Québec.

How will this be achieved?

• Ending resource waste
• Promoting the achievement of the goals of the Climate Change Action Plan and of the Québec Energy Strategy

• Making all stakeholders involved responsible for residual materials management

Main measures

Major short-term measures are required to achieve the policy’s goals, as follows:

• Program for Processing Organic Matter by Biomethanization and Composting (French)
• Regulation Respecting the Recovery and Reclamation of Products by Enterprises
• Draft Regulation Respecting Financial Guarantees Payable for the Operation of an Organic Matter Reclamation Facility
• Regulation respecting the charges payable for the disposal of residual materials (French)
• Bill to amend the Environment Quality Act (EQA) as regards residual materials management and to amend the Regulation respecting compensation for municipal services provided to recover and reclaim residual materials

In addition to these measures, four other programs are administered by RECYC-QUÉBEC: 

• Programs administered by RECYC-QUÉBEC (in French)

References

Press Releases:

• March 15, 2011; Adoption of the policy (in French)
• November 16, 2009; Tabling of the draft policy (in French)

A summary of the policy (French, PDF, 117 Ko)
Policy Presentation Document (PDF, 65 Ko)
Action Plan (PDF, 33 Ko)
Advisory committee on residual materials management (French, PDF, 52 Ko)
Programs administered by RECYC-QUÉBEC (French)

Useful links

Statistics
RECYC-QUÉBEC
Québec Residual Materials Management Policy, 1998-2008