Modernization of the Selective Collection: Accepted Materials and Exceptions
As of January 1, 2025, Éco Entreprise Québec (ÉEQ) will become responsible for the selective collection system for the whole of Quebec, and will manage the modernization of the collection and processing system for recyclable materials. The list of accepted materials will then be simplified: containers, packaging, printed matter—that’s it!
So, as of January 1, 2025, any container, packaging or printed matter made from plastic, paper/cardboard, glass or metal will go in the blue bin! This includes all flexible plastic bags and packaging (whether stretchable or not), and all rigid plastic containers (whether identified with a Möbius strip or not).
- Containers: usually have a cap or lid.
- Packaging: used to easily transport a product.
- Printed matter: paper and other fibres with text, patterns or images.
Important message: The bin must be removed from its collection point by 6 a.m. on Thursday and stored so that it is not visible from the street. Also, for everyone’s safety, it is essential to be patient on the road and not to bypass the trucks and collection staff. Furthermore, please remember to store your bins out of sight after collection.
Exceptions not to put in the blue bin
Aerosol: to the Ecocentre
- All containers, empty or not, marked with an explosive, flammable, toxic, corrosive or other symbol, must never be placed out for door-to-door collections. If it’s dangerous for you at home, it’s also dangerous for collection and sorting centre employees.
protective packaging (Styrofoam): to the ecocenter
- This packaging easily breaks up into balls, contaminating sorting lines and other materials to be recycled.
Degradable plastic containers and packaging: in the garbage
- Containers and packaging marked “biodegradable,” “PLA,” “oxodegradable” or “compostable” are not accepted in the blue bin, nor with food waste.
About the modernization of selective collection
The modernization of selective collection, led by Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ), aims to improve the efficiency and quality of sorting recyclable materials. This province-wide initiative aims to make the collection system more efficient, increase recycling rates and reduce contamination of recyclable materials.
ÉEQ has launched the Bin Impact initiative to raise awareness and educate the public about the importance of sorting recyclable materials at source, and to put an end to grey areas when it comes to determining what does and doesn’t go in the recuperation bin.
With a simplified and standardized list of recuperated materials for the whole of Quebec, there will be greater volumes, and the consolidation of these batches of materials will ultimately make it possible to develop markets for recycling them.