Gatineau residents may have to look out for changes in recycling collection come May 30, as the

City awarded a nearly $40 million contract to Environnement Routier NRJ for the next five

years.

The signed partnership agreement with Éco Entreprises Québec was announced on February 7

during a Comité exécutif press briefing. Director of the water and residual materials department

Chantal Marcotte told reporters the City would be 100 per cent compensated, compared to the

previous 93 per cent.

“This agreement is excellent news for the City and for the population of Gatineau. It not only

represents considerable savings, but it also greatly reduces our municipal responsibilities,”

Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle said in a press release. “And above all, it puts the responsibility

of recycling the materials in the hands of the producers. This is one more step toward the circular

economy and a significant gain for citizens, who will no longer have to pay for the management

of these materials.”

The City is expected to obtain nearly $750,000 annually in financial compensation for certain

rendered services. On top of this amount, the City is to be reimbursed for all expenses related to

the collection and transportation of recyclable materials as well as supply and repair of

containers.

Éco Entreprises Québec will also assume all administrative and financial costs related

to sorting and packaging recovered recycling materials, information, awareness, and education

activities.

Marcotte was not able to specify whether it would be automated or manual collection

but said not much should change for citizens. A one-month transition period was expected for

citizens, but a communication campaign was to be on the way to show citizens how to bring their

bins to the street and place them for collection.

Marcotte said merchants could currently recycle, but that it was more on a voluntary basis. Now,

merchants will be regulated to recycle. “The City is ready to provide the service to anyone who

wants it. Initially, we will be able to establish a user-pays principle,” she said. Once the service

expands in 2027 for businesses and institutions and again in 2030 for industries, Éco Entreprises

Québec will be responsible for servicing them.

Marcotte said several feet would be on the ground to assist in the transition. “There are people

who are there to raise awareness, leave door hangers, explain to citizens how it works, and then

be able to correct the situation in terms of their behaviour.”

Photo caption: Gatineau’s director of the water and residual materials department Chantal

Marcotte addresses journalists’ questions regarding the new recycling contract on February 7.

Photo credit: Screenshot from Mêlée de presse of the Comité exécutif of the Ville de Gatineau on

February 7