When you pull up behind a line of 5 or more cars waiting to dump their refuse/recyclables at the local eco-centre, you have a gut reaction that at least one city service is working well for it’s population. In theory you could walk up, or even bike up with your goods, just bring a drivers license or proof of residence. Most items are free to drop off, but they will charge you a small fee if you frequent the place with large loads.
Each eco-centre (there are 6 on the island) will accept hazardous products (paints, solvents etc), wood, metal, cardboard and ‘other’. Some centres are larger and handle a diverse line up of goods, while the one I frequent (Eadie St) has a permanent flea market dealer who will basically take everything that seems fit for resale. And I mean anything. Toilet lids, old doors, hinges, light fixtures, he’ll take them all.
Unfortunately Quebec lacks a gypsum recycling depot, so a lot of what I see in the other bin is old gypsum board from demolished renovations. An idea presented to me by Emmanuel Cosgrove of Ecohabitation.com was to reuse the old gypsum (if it’s not moldy) as basis for a thermal wall. Cut the pieces to fit into non insulated stud walls and … fill er’ up.

other

metal

wood (notice the shrubs??!)

little boxes… on the hillside… little boxes made of tickytacky
Tags: EcoCentre · Ewaste · Hazerdous Waste · Montreal · Recycling5 Comments
5 responses so far ↓
Looks a lot like the Cote Saint Paul depot.
Yup, that’s the one. Corner Eadie and Cabot. I hear rumours of 8 more eco centres being opened in the near future as part of the ‘master plan’. A good idea in my view. Where to put them, is the question.
Sadly these centers are grossly underfunded as the city of Montreal tends to grant management to the “lowest bidder”. Minimum wage workers with no benefits doing the workload of 2 or 3 “blue collar” workers paid over three times their salary… what a wonderful bandaid on our city’s bloated ass.
Couldn’t agree more, Adam. With lineups 20 cars deep on Saturdays those workers are pressed to the limit. Bloated ass, I like it. Zampino, Tremblay, D’Souza… they all fit the bill.
This administration is ridiculous! I’ve discovered through an informed source that the City of Montreal spend a total of 115,000$ on a SINGLE registration booth and is planning to squander several thousand more on a windmill which will apparently supply electricity to the powergrid.
COME ON PEOPLE!!! Respect your employees!! This is a major disgrace when appearances count more than fair and equitable employment.