MONTREAL, June 11, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Members of Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ), in cooperation with stakeholders and partners in curbside recycling streams, officially launched bacs+, the first group dedicated to strengthening the curbside recycling of recyclable materials in Quebec.
The event was held in the presence of Pierre Arcand, Minister of Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs, to introduce the founding members of the bacs+ group who work in all major business sectors and include retailers, manufacturers, service providers, materials collectors, sorting centres, packagers, associations and equipment manufacturers.
"As of 2013, companies will be responsible for financing 100% of the net costs of municipal curbside recycling services," said Denis Brisebois, ÉEQ's Board Chairman at the launch event. "The bacs+ initiative is therefore part of our frequently-expressed willingness to ensure the efficiency of the recovery system, not to mention its optimization and integrity."
bacs+ is an acronym that stands for "bénéfices de l'augmentation de la collecte sélective," or benefits of improved curbside recycling. The recycling bin is therefore presented as a powerful symbol to rally curbside recycling stakeholders and partners. bacs+ has defined its mission in terms of demonstrating that curbside recycling is the most efficient and effective system for recovering recyclables. The group gives curbside recycling partners a voice on the public scene in order to promote the strengthening of the system, as well as provides visibility to all those who contribute to its development.
Simple and efficient, the system is continually gaining ground
The fact that the recovery rate has grown from 20.5% in 1999 to 65% in 2010 proves that curbside recycling is gaining ground. "Curbside recycling is the most effective recovery system and the only one that will help us reach overall targets that were set by the 2011-15 Action Plan in Quebec's Residual Materials Management Policy. The system will continue to have a significant and positive impact on our environment because its ease of use will result in larger quantities of recyclable materials being diverted from landfill sites," said Maryse Vermette, ÉEQ's President and CEO.
Simple to use, residential curbside recycling is the most readily available to recover materials from 99% of Quebec homes. Moreover, partners in the system took further action by creating the Table pour la récupération hors foyer, and financed the installation of over 7,000 containers and recyclables drop-off points in public places. This industry's concrete initiative encourage the public to recycle more materials made of glass, metal, plastic, paper and cardboard and therefore increase the rate of recovery.
Curbside recycling - A good environmental, economic and social choice
Curbside recycling is the perfect sustainable development application from three standpoints: Environmentally: Curbside recycling contributes to the prevention of climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) thanks to an optimized system for collecting and transporting materials to sorting centres. Processes for sorting, conditioning and transforming recyclable materials require the development of green technology streams, which constitute one of the most important and promising options for Quebec. Economically: As a growing industry, it creates thousands of jobs and investment in R&D. Socially: Thanks to the innovative partnership of 16 organizations, eco-friendly advice is provided to the Table pour la récupération hors foyer on projects for over 4,400 bars, restaurants and hotels throughout Quebec. Such initiatives boost the recovery rate for all recyclable materials.
Curbside recycling is constantly gaining ground thanks to the sustained efforts of citizens, institutions, businesses and industries, particularly retailers, restaurants, manufacturers, municipalities and bacs+ members. The objective is clear: We need to get everyone on board to do their share for the environment by recovering more and better.
About the bacs+ group
bacs+ is an acronym that stands for "bénéfices de l'augmentation de la collecte sélective," or benefits of improved curbside recycling. Its members and partners want to send a positive message that curbside recycling is the best system to recover all types of recyclable materials because it is the simplest and most readily available, effective, profitable and eco-friendly.
Membership list attached
Fact sheet on Quebec's recovery system:
http://bacsplus.preprod.absolunet.com/feuil/documents/pdf/BACS_fiche_1_Systeme_recuperation_vff.pdf
Appendix: bacs+ Membership List as of June 11, 2012
- Association des détaillants en alimentation du Québec
- Canadian Beverage Association
- Association des Embouteilleurs de Boissons Gazeuses du Québec
- Association des restaurateurs du Québec
- Biopaqc
- Retail Council of Canada
- Conseil de la transformation agroalimentaire et des produits de consommation
- Québec Restaurant and Foodservices Council
- Conseil des Entreprises de Services Environnementaux
- Conseil des industriels laitiers du Québec inc.
- Conseil québécois du commerce de détail
- Eagle Vizion
- Éco Entreprises Québec
- Gaïa environnement
- Gaudreau Environnement
- La Table pour la récupération hors foyer
- Les Eaux Naya inc.
- Machinex
- Ni Corporation
- Plastrec Inc.
- Recyc RPM inc.
- RecycleMédias
- RÉSEAU Environnement
- Société des alcools du Québec
- Tricentris
Élisabeth D'Auteuil
Communications Officer
Éco Entreprises Québec
Tel.: 514-987-1491, ext. 238
Cell: 514-526-8136
[email protected]
Source:
Carole Grenier
Public Affairs - Strengthening Curbside Recycling
Éco Entreprises Québec
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