Saint-Lambert, Montérégie, will shift to garbage collection every three weeks starting in 2025, as announced by Mayor Pascale Mongrain. This change aims to encourage composting and recycling, supported by a city campaign targeting residents. Despite concerns raised in other Quebec areas about hygiene issues, the mayor believes her community’s commitment to composting, with nearly 70% participation, will mitigate these problems. Mongrain acknowledges challenges for residents in multiplexes while emphasizing the environmental benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emissions from less frequent collections.
The Saint-Lambert municipality in Montérégie will implement a three-week garbage collection schedule starting in 2025, as announced by the mayor.
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This new collection schedule will be effective year-round.
Mayor Pascale Mongrain explained in an interview with LCN on Friday that, “We’re focusing on the ultimate waste that gets placed in the trash can, which will now be collected every three weeks instead of every two weeks as it has been in recent years.”
This decision has sparked debate in various regions of Quebec, particularly in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, where residents expressed concerns during heatwaves this summer.
Despite this, the mayor remains confident about her community, noting that residents are “very motivated” to actively compost and recycle, with nearly 70% already participating, according to 2022 City data.
“There’s a clear connection between composting and what ends up in the garbage,” she explained. The decision was based on facts and the recycling habits of our community, leading us to believe there will be no hygiene issues associated with this change.”
Since July, Mme Mongrain has been conducting a communication campaign aimed at educating those who do not currently compost.
“We’ve allowed ourselves six months to share the information, reiterate our message, and provide guidance on better sorting. Our goal is to encourage residents to compost, recycle, and reduce waste overall. We believe this approach will be successful.”
However, she acknowledges that residents living in multiplexes may struggle with these practices.
“It’s definitely more challenging to sort, compost, and recycle when living in an apartment or condo, especially on higher floors. We recognize that issue,” she said.
The mayor emphasized that the council’s primary motivation is environmental sustainability.
“We’re proud to note that the truck servicing us every three weeks will produce fewer greenhouse gases compared to the previous two-week schedule,” she illustrated.
Acknowledgment of Challenges
Pascale Mongrain also expressed support for her Montreal counterpart, Valérie Plante, who recently announced she will not run for re-election. This decision adds her name to a growing list of women stepping away from politics in recent months.
“I feel a strong sense of empathy for my fellow women,” she remarked. “It seems like we are often harder on ourselves than society has been on male mayors for quite some time.”
“In any case, being involved in municipal politics is certainly not easy nowadays,” she added.
Despite the challenges, she takes pride in her role. “I am very proud of our beautiful city,” she stated.
Mme Mongrain has not yet decided if she will run for office again in 2025, mentioning, “There’s still a year left, and I plan to make my decision in six months.”
To watch the complete interview, please click on the video above.