| Environmental Columns

New household waste characterization study

Once again, the City has selected a private company to perform a household waste characterization study in residential areas in 2018.

Last year, an 8,150-kilogram sample of waste was characterized, revealing that 45% of its contents included organic waste and 20% consisted of recyclables and other various items (bulky items, construction materials, fabrics, hazardous household waste, and polystyrene products).

This new household waste characterization study will allow us to:

  • evaluate the environmental impact of the weekly household waste collection from June 5 to August 29, 2018;
  • assess the initiatives taken over the past several years, particularly with the Waste Management Squad in 2017;
  • compare the results obtained with the characterization study performed in 2017.

This characterization study will be conducted in May, July, and September. The contents of household waste will be analyzed by sorting materials according to the following categories:

  • Recyclables
  • Organic waste
  • Fabrics
  • Hazardous waste (electronic devices and computer equipment)
  • Bulky items and construction, renovation, and demolition materials
  • Ultimate waste to be sent to landfills

Waste will be randomly chosen at curbside before the usual collection in each district. Samples will not be associated with any address.

In each characterization, a sample weighing at least 1,200 kilograms will be analyzed. A total of 3,600 kilograms of waste will be sampled and analyzed. Once the analysis is complete, all waste will be sent to various centres.

This characterization study will allow us to improve the direction of our awareness and communication initiatives in order to reach the targets set by the government in the Québec residual materials management policy for 2015-2020.

In 2016, Pointe-Claire achieved an overall collection rate of 64%, whereas the average on the island of Montréal was 46%.

Québec residual materials management policy for 2015-2020

Target set for 2020 2016 results for Pointe-Claire
Organic waste 60% 55% (3rd place)
Recyclables 70% 76% (2nd place)
Bulky items and construction, renovation, and demolition materials 70% 77% (2nd place)
Hazardous household waste As much as possible 72% (5th place)