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9/6/2004 - Major development themes and action plans

Centre for Waste Expertise encourages actors in the field to concentrate on major development themes and action plans

Montréal, June 7, 2004 – The Centre d’expertise sur les matières résiduelles, CEMR, (Centre for waste expertise) today released a publication that will help people working in the waste management field to focus on major themes and development plans within their research and development activities. Attending the event were: Daniel Normandin, Vice-president of the Centre for waste Expertise; Thomas J. Mulcair, Québec Minister of the Environment; Dida Berku, Associate City Councillor and Christian Yaccarini, Chairman of the Fonds d’action québécois pour le développement durable.

Entitled, Axes de développement et pistes d’action dans le domaine des matières résiduelles, the French-language publication presents an exhaustive analysis of the state of research on waste management in the province by two Québec researchers, Carole Beaudoin and François Morin. The study received funding from the Fonds d’action québécois pour le développement durable and its financial partner, the Government of Québec. A consulting committee set up by the CEMR through its research and development centre arm, later used the results of this study to define priorities in the field of solid waste research and development.


Acting for the future

Daniel Normandin, CEMR Vice-president, noted that future directions of research and development will veer away from the usual path. From now on, they will focus more particularly on social issues, growth management, reduction at the source, social acceptance, information and awareness and analysis of the life cycle within the perspective of the product integration policy. “The Centre for Waste expertise has evolved into a true centre of learning and know-how. Our work demonstrates that research personnel, businesses and municipalities are in possession of all the tools they need to make this turn-around so that Québec can rise to new challenges,” he said.

For her part, Dida Berku, Associate City Councillor, recalled the major role the city of Montréal plays at the international level in recycling, integrated waste management and sustainable development. “The strategic location of the CEMR technology centre, at the entrance to the Saint-Michel environmental complex, was not a haphazard choice. For a long time, municipal recycling activities at the former landfill site have enabled Montréal to develop world-class expertise in waste management.”


Phase 2 of the Québec technology showcase on waste management

The CEMR also inaugurated the extension of its showcase displaying the latest in waste management technologies. This expansion, made possible through the financial support of the ministries of municipal affaires, sports and recreation, and the environment, will enable the centre to welcome new companies that have developed innovative technologies.

The four most recent partners are: Groupe TIRU, specializing in the collection, sorting and commercialization of recyclable material; Solmax-Texel, providing expertise in geosynthetic products and material; ICI Environnement, a consortium of 14 Québec universities working in the environmental field and Intersan, using bioreactor technology to promote the conversion of biogas into energy.

The Centre for Waste Expertise aims to promote issues of sustainable development and intergrated waste management. To achieve this, the CEMR relies on three development divisions: the technology showcase, a research and development centre and a public information and awareness section. Its three founding members are the Réseau Environnement, I.C.I Environnement and the city of Montréal.



Source:
Centre d’expertise sur les matières résiduelles

Information:
Christiane Bolduc
Project coordinator
(514) 728-3999