Tashi Farmilo
Published online April 8, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com.
MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – After more than five years, the ecocentre serving the Municipality of Pontiac is set to reopen, giving residents a local drop-off site for materials that have had few disposal options in recent years.
The facility will open April 18 and 25, from 9 am to 3 pm, at 1975 chemin du Lac-des-Loups. Both days will be free of charge. After that, the municipality plans to operate the site once a month, with dates to be announced on its website.
The ecocentre first closed in 2020 due to a combination of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, restructuring of its waste management contractor, difficulty obtaining containers and the high cost of subcontracted services. Since then, pressure for a local solution has grown. Fewer regional ecocentres are accepting non-residents, some materials previously accepted elsewhere are no longer taken, and illegal dumping has increased. “The municipality has noted a significant number of illegal dumps on its territory,” said Caroline Spooner, project manager and deputy clerk for the Municipality of Pontiac, adding this reinforced the need for an accessible local option.
The reopening also marks a shift in focus. “The goal is to reduce landfill by favouring reuse, recycling and recovery,” Spooner said. The municipality has partnered with organizations such as the Association pour la récupération des produits électroniques (ARPE) and GoRecycle to manage materials including agricultural plastics, electronics, metals and tires. A reuse zone is also planned, where residents can drop off items in good condition, including appliances, bikes, tools, sports equipment, toys and furniture.
The site has been reorganized with new containers, a dry toilet, improved traffic flow and enhanced safety measures. Staff will be on site to guide residents, and a digital application will track the types and volumes of materials received.
A wide range of materials will be accepted. Construction and renovation materials including dry debris such as wood — planks, plywood, pre-finished wood, particleboard, melamine, floating floors and painted wood — as well as drywall will be accepted. Electronics including televisions, computers, laptops, keyboards, screens, printers, phones, tablets, routers, gaming consoles and accessories are welcome. Refrigeration appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, wine coolers, water dispensers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers will be accepted, but must be complete and not dismantled. Bulky items including sofas, armchairs, mattresses, padded chairs, baths, showers, hot tubs cut into sections for transport, carpets and furniture can also be dropped off.
Green waste such as branches, twigs, dead leaves, grass clippings, garden debris and real Christmas trees will be accepted, though invasive plants are refused. Soil, sand, stone, stumps, shrubs and sawdust are accepted as fill. Agricultural plastics, including silage films, silage bags and tarps, feed bags and clean twine, will also be accepted. Tires without rims are accepted at no charge; tires with rims are accepted for a fee, while oversized tires are refused.
The site will not accept household garbage, blue-bin recyclables, unsorted materials, hazardous household waste such as oils, paint, solvents, chemicals, pesticides or gasoline, weapons, explosives, biomedical waste, contaminated soil, medications, animal remains, propane tanks over 30 lbs, railway ties, radioactive waste, clothing and textiles, or invasive plants.
Access is limited to residents of the Municipality of Pontiac. Proof of residency will be required, materials must come from within municipal boundaries and must be sorted before arrival. Residents must unload their own vehicles and follow on-site safety rules. While the April dates are free, fees may apply for certain materials, including construction debris, wood and tires with rims, in subsequent months.
