Pontiac ponders next steps in bid to reduce waste across region

Jane Toller, warden for the MRC Pontiac, says she would like to standardize waste management in the region's 18 municipalities  (Simon LaSalle/Radio-Canada - image credit)
Jane Toller, warden for the MRC Pontiac, says she would like to standardize waste management in the region's 18 municipalities (Simon LaSalle/Radio-Canada - image credit)

Talks continue in the MRC Pontiac about how to create less trash in the wake of local officials voting down a controversial garbage incinerator plan earlier this year.

In addition to the MRC launching a new campaign promoting waste reduction across its 18 municipalities — which don't all handle trash the same way — the region's warden, Jane Toller, has created a committee made up of councillors from each municipality.

The goal? To decide on one consistent waste management process throughout the MRC.

"I personally hope we will have door to door collection," Toller told Radio-Canada. "You need to make waste easy and convenient for people."

Toller wants to look at practices from around the world and believes that, despite increased efforts toward waste reduction, landfills will still play a role in the MRC.

Nina Digioacchino, an environmental coordinator for the MRC, said the region has signed an agreement with Éco Entreprises Québec to improve its composting services.

But even after "maximum" recycling and composting, 40 per cent of the MRC's waste will still make its way to a landfill, Toller said.

And at some point, Toller added, the provincial government may decide to close landfills.

"So what will our solution be?"