The Ricova company promised on Wednesday to collaborate with the City of Montreal to avoid an interruption in recycling collections, the day after the start of the termination of its contract at the Lachine sorting center.
Updated yesterday at 6:47 p.m.
“Discussions will continue with the City in order to arrive at a solution and Ricova ensures its full collaboration in maintaining the collection and sorting of recyclable materials in Montreal,” wrote the company in a press release released at the start of the evening. . “Ricova agreed this morning [mercredi] with the Montreal municipal authorities to continue efforts to find outlets for the accumulated materials without stopping operations. »
However, Ricova does not clearly indicate that she agrees to hand over to the Lachine sorting center.
Earlier Wednesday, The Press revealed that the City was preparing to terminate the operating contract for the Lachine sorting center because the recycler Ricova threatened to interrupt its activities there. The company has been on the verge of collapse for a few weeks because it can no longer export the recycling bales. She blames the zeal of the customs authorities, who would have taken a dislike to her.
“There is not a sufficient market in Quebec for the entire volume recycled in the province, particularly because the materials collected at the source are highly contaminated,” argues Dominic Colubriale, president and CEO of Ricova, in his communicated.
“We can’t have a break in service,” says Valérie Plante
The City of Montreal cannot afford an interruption in recycling collection on the island and will ensure that this scenario does not occur, Valérie Plante said in the morning.
“I want to reassure Montrealers. Recycling collection is an essential service. It continues. Everything is being done to ensure the continuity of operations in Lachine,” said Valérie Plante on Wednesday morning, as part of the weekly meeting of her executive committee.
“The company recently threatened the City with closing the plant and you will understand that for us, it’s no. We cannot have a break in service in terms of recycling collection, ”she continued. “It is important for us to act quickly. »
Mme Plante said City of Montreal lawyers had received positive signals from Ricova about its desire to ensure a smooth transition of operations.
It is the company Via – a non-profit organization aiming at the employment integration of handicapped people]which would take over from Ricova at the Lachine sorting centre.
These facilities – which were to revolutionize recycling in Montreal – have suffered from major performance problems since their official inauguration in 2019. The bales of paper that come out of them contain significant quantities of plastic bags.
On Wednesday, Via declined to comment on the case.