Quebec’s recyclers sound alarm bells

Canada – The recycling industry in the Canadian province of Quebec is having a hard time running profitably. Quebec has more than 30 recycling plants, but only a few are making money because the market is at an all-time low while operating costs are on the increase, reports CBC News.

Recyclers are warning that the industry is in jeopardy and capacity is already shutting down. Last June, for example, a plastic recycling plant was declared bankrupt, although it continues to operate with some aid from the government. Johnny Izzi, director general of Gaudreau Environnement, a company that manages several facilities in Quebec, confirms: ′It′s a difficult period. I think the model that has been around to manage recycling is obsolete now. There needs to be change.′

A major problem is represented by the increased volumes of plastics on the market that contain new types of material as most facilities in Quebec do not have the technology to process and sort them properly. Millions of dollars of investment would be necessary to modernise equipment but ′not every recycling facility can afford that′, notes Izzi.

For more information, visit: www.groupegaudreau.com