Virage Vert: over 20 tonnes of plastic diverted from landfill!

Along with its partners Synergie Économique Laurentides (SÉL) and CAE Rive-Nord, the SADC des Laurentides is proud to announce this year’s results for the “winter boat shrink wrap covers” component of the orphan plastics recovery project. In 2023, more than 20 tonnes of plastics were diverted from landfill to recycling, half of them from local businesses.

 

Results for the SADC des Laurentides territory

The 2023 collection expanded across the territory thanks to the financial support of SADC des Laurentides. Ten companies participated in the Laurentides and Pays-d’en-Haut RCM collections, an increase of of two over last year. In all, nearly 10 tonnes of plastic materials, representing 1 049 covers, were recycled instead of going to landfill in these territories. The SADC des Laurentides would like to highlight the efforts of participating companies, municipalities and RCMs for meeting 82% of the target objective.

 

Participating businesses:

  • Desjardins Marine
  • St-Adolphe Marine
  • Aqua Sport Marine
  • Thibault Marine
  • Sports Marins B & F
  • Théo Marine
  • Garage Laramée
  • Moto Sport Mont-Tremblant
  • Motoplex
  • PC Mécanique

 

These results also stem from the expertise and fieldwork carried out by Synergie Économique Laurentides, which has been running the project since 2017.

“The SADC des Laurentides is proud to have contributed to increasing the scope of the project on its territory thanks to the Virage Vert program. The results demonstrate the impact of the collective efforts made in recent years. It is vital that organizations like ours, as well as the various levels of government, RCMs and municipalities, support the transition of businesses to sustainable practices. The amount of plastic diverted from landfill proves that these initiatives are beneficial for our region, and that everyone wins,” says Sylvie Bolduc, General Manager of the SADC des Laurentides.

 

Innovative collection methods

Synergie Économique Laurentides’ project to recycle orphan plastics in the Laurentian region is an ambitious initiative aimed at preventing the landfilling of plastics that exceed the capacity of municipal collections. The sheer number of boat plastic shrink wrap covers in the region is costly and challenging for cover producers. As such, the project aims to encourage their collection, transportation and recycling.

 

The project has set up several innovative collection methods, tailored to the needs of the companies producing these covers. Collection methods include eco-centre drop-off, door-to-door, self drop-off and by dump truck. Each of these approaches aims to optimize the collection process according to the quantities of covers generated by companies and local issues.

 

The project was a success thanks to the collaboration between Synergie Économique Laurentides, the five regional county municipalities (RCMs), municipalities and businesses. The project benefits from financial support from several key organizations and partners, including the ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec, the Fonds du Grand Mouvement Desjardins, the SADC des Laurentides, the SADC Achigan-Montcalm, the CAE Rive-Nord, Argenteuil, Deux-Montagnes, Laurentides and Pays-d’en-Haut RCMS, and the Ville de Mirabel. The project is also supported by the Complexe environnemental de la Rouge and the Régie intermunicipale des déchets de la Lièvre. Modix Plastique inc, a technical partner specializing in plastics recycling, is also involved in this initiative.

 

The support of the SADC des Laurentides and CAE Rive-Nord has enabled SÉL to increase the scope of its plastic recovery project and expand its collection territory. “CAE Rive-Nord is very proud to have taken part in this extensive sustainable development movement, which enables us to recycle huge quantities of plastic that would otherwise have ended up in landfill. Looking at the results of this first year of collection on our territory, we can see the magnitude of the situation. We’re delighted to have collaborated with Synergie Économique Laurentides and the SADC des Laurentides on this recycling initiative as part of the Virage Vert program,” says Marie-Pierre Guindon, Director of CAE Rive-Nord.