The Ministry of the Environment partially suspends the authorization issued to Service 3R Valorisation, a company that has accumulated environmental offenses at its Montreal East sorting center for more than ten years.
In a survey published in January, The duty revealed that the Ministry of the Environment has reduced 3R Valorisation’s environmental obligations. Under a conciliation agreement concluded in October 2022, Quebec allowed the manager of the building materials sorting center to form piles of residue exceeding the permitted standard. In addition, the company had to reduce these piles to nine meters by April.
However, according to the ministry, 3R Valorisation “has still not carried out the work required”. Quebec therefore announced on Friday the partial suspension of the company’s operating certificate held by Simon Bergeron, currently on work stoppage.
This partial suspension prohibits the company from accepting new residual materials on its site, which has been overflowing for a number of years. Still buried under heaps of residual materials, the sorting chain must for its part be “completely cleared, put back into operation and really allow the materials that are present or that enter the site to be sorted”, requires the Ministry of the Environment. .
Over the years, the ministry has increased inspections on the site. “Investigations are still ongoing with a view to further criminal prosecutions,” the ministry said in a statement.
Given the history of 3R Valorisation, “what is required is the least of things,” says Karel Ménard, director of the Quebec Common Front for ecological waste management. “It’s a good thing, yes, but in reality, it’s a minimum. He is asked to respect his commitments and the regulations which, in his case, have been lightened in recent months. »
Reaction of the City of Montreal East
The Mayor of the City of Montreal East, Anne St-Laurent, for her part applauds the decision of the Ministry of the Environment. ” That’s excellent news ! she says. It’s been dragging on since 2010. It no longer makes sense. »
Many citizens complain to the City of Montreal East about fine dust from 3R Valorisation that lands on their property and their car. Municipal authorities are also concerned about the risks associated with a fire at the debris site. “There is a sulfur plant not far from 3R Valorisation,” says Anne St-Laurent. It is dangerous for fire. It is dangerous for the population. »
The City of Montreal East says it initiated a legal action against 3R Valorisation last fall. According to the municipal regulations in force, the height of the piles of waste must reach a maximum of three meters. “It is not respected”, says the director of legal affairs and clerk Kaouther Saadi, who cannot comment further, the file being judicialized.
At the end of September, the City of Montreal East amended a zoning by-law preventing the installation, in the sector where 3R Valorisation is located, of new companies carrying out waste disposal and treatment activities. 3R Valorisation retains its acquired rights.
No sales on the horizon
In January, M.e Karl-Emmanuel Harrison, who represented the company, argued that it had no intention of continuing its activities in its current form, stating that 3R Valorisation had even taken steps to sell its assets. “Offers have been made by some people to acquire the land,” he argued. Regardless of the scenarios considered, the site was going to be cleaned up, he assured.
Bankruptcy was not considered at the time, despite the company’s financial problems. In September, the City of Montreal East filed a notice of sale for unpaid property taxes for the year 2021. Revenu Québec, for its part, registered a legal mortgage for an unpaid sum of $519,000. Ditto for the Business Development Bank of Canada, which claimed unpaid sums reaching $76,000.
Contacted Friday by The dutyMe Harrison says he doesn’t have the mandate to speak to reporters.