Mayors in Quebec’s Pontiac Region Move Forward with Business Plan for Waste-to-Energy Incineration Site
Mayors in Quebec’s Pontiac Region have voted to advance the creation of a business plan for a proposed waste-to-energy incineration site. This significant decision came following a special meeting on Wednesday, where 12 out of 18 mayors voted in favor of allocating $120,000 for the development of the business plan, to be prepared by Deloitte.
The proposed project entails the construction of an incineration plant somewhere in the region, with an estimated cost of approximately $450 million, funded by various levels of government. To ensure its sustainability, the facility would need to process 400,000 tons of waste annually. Currently, the Pontiac region generates only 5,000 tons per year, necessitating the procurement of additional waste sources from neighboring areas, which the region is actively working on. MRC Pontiac Warden Jane Toller plans to engage with surrounding regions such as Pembroke, Renfrew County, and Ottawa, in hopes of having their waste transported to the Pontiac.
Despite the majority vote in favor, opposition to the plan was also voiced during the meeting. Litchfield Mayor Colleen Lariviere was among the six mayors who voted against the project, expressing concerns about the transportation of 400,000 tons of garbage into the Pontiac. Environmental groups, including ‘Friends of the Pontiac,’ were present at the meeting to voice their reservations about the safety of waste incineration.
Jane Toller remains committed to the project and anticipates that the Deloitte business plan will be ready by the end of November. The final decision on the waste-to-energy facility will be determined by regional and governmental stakeholders.
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