Tashi Farmilo
Published online March 25, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com.
MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – Residents near chemin de la Rivière in the Municipality of Pontiac are raising concerns about large quantities of human biosolids—processed sewage sludge—spread on agricultural fields in the area. At least one resident alleges the material may have been deposited in violation of Quebec’s environmental regulations.
Cliff Bellis, who lives on chemin de la Rivière, first raised the issue publicly in the Action Pontiac Facebook group March 8, describing what he called a “huge amount of human biosolids” deposited on a field on the west side of the road, just before a creek. He said a similar situation occurred last year, with consequences.
“During the spring runoff, the material flowed straight into the creek,” he wrote. Bellis has since identified two other locations where he believes similar material was spread: on chemin Papineau and chemin de la Baie. Biosolids are a semi-solid byproduct of municipal or industrial wastewater treatment. They are commonly used as fertilizer on agricultural land across Quebec and Canada, but their application is regulated under Quebec’s code governing residual material fertilizers. The regulations set strict requirements for distances from watercourses, residences and drainage ditches, as well as testing protocols.
Bellis said at least two of those rules may have been breached. He said the material on his road is within 500 metres of a neighbouring residence, which he believes violates provincial odour regulations. He also said the material on chemin Papineau appears to be within 50 metres of a ditch, which would also be non-compliant. “From what I’ve been able to find out, this activity appears to be illegal under Quebec’s environmental laws,” he wrote.
The Municipality of Pontiac has identified the company responsible for the spreading as GFL Environmental, a Canadian waste management firm operating across the country and in much of the United States. Mayor Roger Larose confirmed the municipality has contacted Quebec’s Ministry of the Environment multiple times about the issue.
“We contacted them four or five times,” he said. “We think they [GFL Environmental] are not respecting the rules, like the distance between the ditch and the material, but we don’t know too much about it. They won’t tell us much either.”
He said the Ministry has indicated it will conduct an inspection, but the municipality does not know when it will take place or whether it will be informed of the outcome. The Ministry confirmed March 11 that it is reviewing the complaints. Ministry communications adviser and regional spokesperson Louis Potvin said environmental complaints had been received regarding the spreading of residual material fertilizers at several locations in the Municipality of Pontiac. He said the Ministry is conducting verifications and inspections are planned.
Bellis said he has been working on the issue for weeks and is only now beginning to receive clearer answers. He has encouraged neighbours to file complaints directly with the Ministry through its online form or by calling the 24-hour environmental emergency line at 1-866-694-5454.
According to GFL Environmental’s website, they provide liquid and organic waste management services to municipal partners across Quebec. The company did not respond to a request for comment before the Journal’s press time.
