Published in the Pontiac Journal on November 5, 2025.
Mélissa Gélinas
Local Journalism Initiative
MRC PONTIAC – A new recyclable materials collection system will be introduced in most Pontiac municipalities beginning January 1, 2026. Distribution of blue bins will start on November 10.
According to MRC environmental coordinator Nina Digioacchino, distribution teams will begin with municipalities already equipped for collection—namely Shawville and Mansfield. “We’ll then move on to other municipalities, including Bryson, Campbell’s Bay, Portage-du-Fort, Waltham, Chichester, and Sheenboro,” she said. The rollout should be completed by mid-December.
In some parts of Bristol, including Norway Bay and Pontiac Station, bins will be delivered in the spring.
“For those who would like to see recyclable materials collection offered in their municipality, I encourage them to speak with their council and mayor,” said Digioacchino.
All blue bins will be provided free of charge by Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ). They are intended for containers, packaging, and printed materials. Containers and packaging include items with a cap or lid used to carry or protect a product, such as cleaning product bottles, food jars, cardboard boxes, aluminum trays, and take-out containers. Printed materials include non-food papers that contain text, patterns, or illustrations, such as
newspapers, flyers, envelopes, and receipts.
Certain materials are excluded from curbside pickup. Aerosol containers and polystyrene (Styrofoam) must be dropped off at designated depots. Biodegradable or compostable plastic containers and packaging are also not accepted because they can contaminate recyclable materials.
Residents are encouraged to empty and rinse containers and separate different materials before placing them in the bin. “If a cardboard package includes plastic, it’s best to separate the two so each can be properly processed,” Digioacchino explained.