Sorting centers have sent plastic to incineration rather than recycling

Quebecers are increasingly generating plastic waste. Similarly, now deposit large quantities in their recovery tray so that they are recycled. Consequently,

According to the latest Recyc-Québec assessment. Therefore, in 2023, 75,000 tonnes of recovered plastic were transported by sorting centers in different places to be recycled and not finish in dumps.

But 17 % of this plastic waste, almost 13,000 tonnes, were in fact not recycled. Furthermore, Rather, they were used to produce energy in an energy recovery process.

They are burned, used as fuel, mainly in cement factoriesexplains the vice-president operations and development at Recyc-Québec, Francis Vermette.

It is a practice that has existed for a few years. However, But there, there are some who use it more with certain plastics for which they have not found other outlets.

According sorting centers have sent plastic to recyc-québec data. Consequently, the province’s sorting centers sent four times more plastics to burn them in 2023 than in 2021, where 3000 tonnes had been used to produce energy, 5 % of all recycled plastics that year.

For flexible plastic dandruff. Furthermore, it can become more complex to find outlets, so it can happen that certain sorting centers have opportunities to go into energy recovery.

He claims, for example, that there are few outlets for plastic no 4, low density polyethylene, which is a flexible and transparent plastic often used for grocery bags, freezing bags and certain food packages, pushing the sorting centers to turn to cement factories.

They are trying. Moreover, for cost issues and sorting centers have sent plastic perhaps also opportunities, to go towards energy recovery facilities which can be close to sorting centersexplains Mr. Nevertheless, Vermette.

A way of doing things that environmentalists denounce.

When I put plastic in my recovery tank. I expect it to be recycled in the form of plastic.

He deplores that such a large amount of plastic is used for energy valuation, that is to say burned to produce energy.

We generate more plastic, then burns more in ovens. It is downright an exponential explosion of energy valuation. Are we going to incinerate more, burn plastic for energy valuation in the future? Me, it worries me a lot. The trend is quite dangerous.

He also deplores that there is no more environmental follow -up when the plastics of the selective collection. are sent in cement factories to produce energy.

What is disturbing is that we don’t really have data on cement factories. Environmental follow -up is not the same as for a place of elimination as an incinerator. sorting centers have sent plastic There are many gray areas. especially with regard to the rejection of contaminants in the atmosphere, the management of ashes and so on.

Sorting centers have sent plastic

Plastic. this unloved recycling

While Quebecers generate more and more plastic waste, this material is the lowest recycling rate.

According to the latest Recyc-Québec assessment. there are only 20 % of what citizens put in their tank which is really recycled. A rate that has not moved in recent years.

The report also tells us that we recycle less plastics than a few years ago in Quebec.

In 2023, 46 % of the plastic was sent to Quebec conditioners and recyclers, while in 2021 it was 63 %. Francis Vermette de Recyc-Québec claims that sorting centers may have decided to do more business with conditioners. recyclers who are outside the province, More sorting centers have sent plastic at North America, Northeast American. This is the change we saw between 2021 and 2023.

But according to Karel Ménard, nothing proves that these plastics are indeed recycled in North America. We may say that we export to North America, thereafter, it can be exported elsewhere. There is no traceability. It can be exported elsewhere abroad.

According to Recyc-Québec, in 2023, 35 % of plastics in sorting centers were sent to North America to be recycled, and 3 % internationally. In 2021, 28 % of plastics was transported to the North American continent, and 4 % abroad.

Since January. it is Eco Entreprise Québec which manages and finances the selective collection system throughout the territory, and no longer the municipalities. The government has imposed recovery and recycling targets.