Tashi Farmilo
LJI Reporter

Recycling has become easier and more inclusive for Gatineau residents following significant
updates to the city’s blue bin program. Since January 1, a broader range of materials is now
accepted in the blue recycling bins, aligning the city with province-wide efforts to simplify waste
management and encourage higher recycling rates.

Residents now need only determine if an item is a container, packaging, or printed material. If it
is, it belongs in the blue bin. This update significantly expands what can be recycled, now
including items like chip bags, individual yoghurt containers, and Styrofoam trays. These
commonly discarded items, which were previously destined for landfills, can now be given a
second life through the updated recycling program. Printed materials—such as newspapers,
magazines, flyers, and other paper products—can also go in the blue bin, alongside plastics and
other recyclables.

While these materials are mixed in the blue bin, they are carefully separated at facilities like
Tricentris. Using advanced sorting technology, the recycling centre separates paper-based
materials, plastics, metals, and other recyclables to ensure they are processed correctly and
recycled into new products. This streamlined system reduces the need for residents to pre-sort
materials, making recycling more accessible and convenient.

However, some exceptions remain. Aerosol containers and expanded polystyrene protective
packaging, such as large foam blocks used in shipping, cannot go in the blue bin and must still
be taken to designated ecocentres for proper disposal.

This update follows Gatineau’s partnership with Éco Entreprises Québec, the organization
spearheading the modernization of selective collection across the province. The partnership,
established in January 2024, reflects Gatineau’s proactive approach to improving recycling
systems.

City officials have emphasized the importance of these changes, highlighting the environmental
and practical benefits for residents. Marc Bureau, Chair of the Commission on the Environment
and Climate Change, described the update as a major step forward. “This long-awaited
modernization simplifies recycling for our community while expanding the range of accepted
materials. We hope these changes encourage greater participation and help reduce the
environmental footprint of our city,” he said.

To accommodate residents with larger volumes of recyclables, the city offers an additional blue
bin free of charge through its 311 service. For those unsure about specific items, Gatineau
provides guidance on its website and the DTRITUS app, ensuring that everyone can contribute
to the success of the new program.​

Photo: Gatineau’s updated blue bin program, implemented on January 1, now accepts a wider
range of recyclable materials, such as chip bags and yoghurt containers, with all collected items
continuing to be processed at Tricentris, the regional recycling facility. (TF) Photo courtesy of
Tricentris