MONTREAL, April 18,
2024 /CNW/ - The year 2023 was marked by many
accomplishments for Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ), which provided
its members with a highly satisfactory report, both in terms of the
activities completed for the modernized curbside recycling system
and the relationships established with stakeholders.
During the Annual General Meeting held virtually this morning,
the Board Chair, Denis Brisebois,
and the CEO, Maryse Vermette,
presented and commented on the highlights of the last fiscal year.
Daniel Denis, Non-Member Director
and Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, presented the
Statement of Operations.
The annual activity report published today shows that, over the
past few months, the ÉEQ producer responsibility organization (PRO)
has laid solid foundations for the modernized curbside recycling
system.
Highlights
- Some 2,500 producers have signed a membership contract and have
thus become members of ÉEQ.
- $214.7 million was paid by ÉEQ
members in the 2023 Schedule of Contributions under the
compensation plan for municipalities.
- Since the creation of ÉEQ in 2005, a total of more than
$2.2 billion has been paid in
compensation to municipalities for the financing of curbside
recycling services.
- ÉEQ's CEO and her team toured the province to listen to
municipal organizations. They met with more than 150 elected
officials or municipal managers in 7 regions of Quebec, not to mention the meetings of ÉEQ
representatives with the municipal unions – UMQ and FQM – in which
more than 1,000 people from the municipal sector took part.
- In the spirit of modernizing curbside recycling, municipal
organizations have joined forces to help optimize the system. On
April 10, 2024, at least 115
partnership agreements were signed or were about to be signed with
as many municipal organizations representing 87% of the population
living in 1,137 municipalities in Quebec for front-line services.
- ÉEQ worked on the ideation and creation of its new brand name,
Bin Impact, launched in January
2024. This launch coincided with a major province-wide
public awareness campaign on the curbside recycling of recyclable
materials to encourage Quebecers to sort properly at the source on
a daily basis.
- Two (2) new directors representing ÉEQ members were elected by
acclamation to the Board of Directors at the Annual General
Meeting:
- Dominique Bohec, Dumas Bakery
and Pastry, Aliments 2000 and Les Pâte de l'Île
- Christopher Phare, 3M Canada.
- Five (5) directors were re-elected to the Board of Directors,
three (3) of whom represent ÉEQ members:
- Sylvain Mayrand, A. Lassonde
Inc.
- Thierry Lopez, Best Buy Canada
Ltd.
- Audrey Rzasa, Nespresso
- Pierre Renaud, non-member
director
- Daniel Denis, non-member
director
- Finally, in recent weeks, an organizational transformation took
place to complete ÉEQ's preparation to oversee, manage and finance
all curbside recycling services in Quebec. The exercise was planned in accordance
with the organization's mission and values, with the support of the
Board of Directors and the guidance of experts.
Quotes
"We are completing the work to bring the modernization of
curbside recycling into force in January
2025 with the signing of contracts for sorting and material
sales. The vast process undertaken to conclude partnership
agreements with municipal organizations for front-line services
required significant work. It resulted in a small revolution
because in Quebec we now have
groups of municipal organizations which are signing
agreements."
— Maryse Vermette,
President and Chief Executive Officer
"In 2023, the Éco Entreprises Québec team was very present
in the field and achieved its objectives, while ensuring sound
governance for the coming years. The transition to EPR curbside
recycling will require an additional financial effort for our
members, but we are confident that this investment will provide
tangible results for system optimization."
— Denis Brisebois,
Board Chair
About Éco Entreprises Québec
Since 2005, Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ), a private non-profit
organization, has represented producers of containers, packaging
and printed paper regarding their financial responsibilities for
curbside recycling. Designated as Producer Responsibility
Organization (PRO) in 2022, ÉEQ manages the curbside recycling
system in Quebec from a
sustainable development perspective.
As a leader in extended producer responsibility (EPR), ÉEQ
develops, manages and provides circular economy solutions to its
member producers so they can reduce their environmental footprint.
ÉEQ places ecodesign, recyclability and traceability at the core of
all actions with its partners. ÉEQ will continue its role as the
organization managing producers' financial responsibilities in the
compensation plan throughout the transition period to EPR.
For more information.
SOURCE Eco Entreprises Quebec