Ruby Pratka, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

editor@qctonline.com

Quebec City residents who buy reusable diapers or menstrual products can now have a portion of the cost covered by the Ville de Québec through a subsidy program, launched Jan. 30. Those who take advantage of the subsidy can have 60 per cent of the purchase price of each pack of reusable products reimbursed, up to an annual ceiling of $100 for menstrual products and $200 per child for diapers. If the products are purchased from local businesses, up to 75 per cent of the cost is reimbursed. The program was first announced in December, but has since been revised to allow participants to apply more often. People can submit two applications every five years.

“For many, this program will provide the necessary boost to take action,” said Coun. Marie- Josée Asselin, the member of the city executive committee responsible for waste management. “A person could, for example, equip themselves at a reduced price with a set of washable diapers, or a menstrual cup and panties, depending on their needs. It’s one more tool toward a sustainable lifestyle.” In a statement, Asselin added that encouraging the use of reusable products is also expected to reduce waste and boost local businesses.

Limoilou Coun. Jackie Smith and her party, Transition Québec, championed the program alongside Coun. Alicia Despins (Vanier–Les Rivières; Québec d’abord) and the Regroupement des femmes de la Capitale-Nationale. Smith said it’s “amazing that it took so long” to put the program in place.

She said she pitched the proposal in May 2022. “There was a multi-party committee that was put in place; we all agreed it should happen, but then nothing happened for a really long time. The city did not want to manage it [directly] … they asked a few community organizations and then found an organization in Montreal [the Groupe de recommandations et d’actions pour un meilleur environnement (GRAME)] who manages it for a bunch of municipalities.” Lévis, Sherbrooke, Cowansville and the Sud-Ouest borough of Montreal have similar subsidy programs.

According to the GRAME, a person who uses disposable menstrual products will use about 15,000 tampons or pads over the course of a lifetime, and each disposable pad takes about 450 years to decompose.

Every year in Canada, 771 million disposable hygiene products are thrown out. Smith said while the “startup costs” are relatively significant for people who replace dispos- able diapers and menstrual products with reusable ones, the environmental benefits are significant. Pads and diapers “are used briefly and then thrown out and sent to the incinerator when they’re wet, so they reduce the efficiency of the incinerator, and it’s a lot of waste in terms of kilos.”

Smith said many local organic grocery stores, zero-waste stores and stores that sell baby products also sell reusable diapers or other hygiene products. Quebec-based companies Mme L’Ovary and Marie fil sell reusable menstrual products which can be found online or in select stores.

To learn more or apply for the subsidy, visit grame.org/protection-hygienique-lavable-subvention-grame.