The VIA Company, which could take charge of the Lachine recycling center, said it was hopeful of better sorting the green bin of Montrealers on Thursday.
Posted yesterday at 2:38 p.m.
The big boss of the non-profit organization said that he foresees a transition of “a few weeks to a few months” to take possession of the sorting center, once received the green light from the City of Montreal.
“Our philosophy is to rely on the quality of sorting of recyclable materials,” said Jean-Sébastien Daigle in a telephone interview. “We tell ourselves that by having super good quality, we will be able to sell our materials, rain or shine. It brings stability. »
This installation has been at a breaking point for several weeks, since its current operator – Ricova – has become unable to dispose of the bales of recyclable materials that accumulate on its land. The quality of these bales is very low, which affects the company’s sales in the domestic market. In addition, Ricova claims to be the victim of overzealousness on the part of Canadian customs authorities, who allegedly block its exports.
The situation is so critical that Ricova threatened, on September 6, to cease its activities at the Lachine sorting center. Such a decision would have completely disrupted recycling collection in the metropolis.
The City informed Ricova this week of its desire to terminate its contract.
“We must always invest”
Société VIA, an organization for the employment of people with disabilities, had won the contract to operate the Lachine sorting center in 2020. However, it had been beaten by Ricova, which had taken over the bankruptcy of the previous operator.
She was recently contacted by the City of Montreal to sound out its interest in reactivating the dormant contract, which is much more onerous for the public treasury than Ricova’s.
We have expressed our interest to the City. I think that on the side of the City, there are still stages. There are decisions that have to be made. We are waiting on that side. The first thing is going to be to visit and take stock of the situation.
Jean-Sébastien Daigle, CEO of the VIA Company
Mr. Daigle says he is aware that Ricova points to the quality of the machinery installed at the Lachine sorting center to explain the significant contamination of his paper bales.
The big boss of VIA affirms to be ready to solve the problems of equipment which could emerge. “It is certain and certain that we must always invest. We invest every year in our four centres. […] In Montreal, depending on the quality of the sorting that comes out, the investments will have to be more or less significant. »
As for the forty employees currently working in Lachine, Mr. Daigle said he did not yet know their exact employment status. “Our philosophy, of course, is to keep the employees already in place, not to [supprimer de postes] “, he added, however.