• Environment
• Pierrefonds

The Éco-Quartier is there to help

Local centre offers all kinds of environmental services

Karen Seidman
The Gazette
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

There’s no question that the Éco-Quartier has done a lot of good for the environment since it set up shop in Pierrefonds-Roxboro last spring. But project manager Christian Ackad believes the eco-friendly centre could accomplish much more if more peole knew about its many services. “We have a lot to offer but many people don’t know about our services,” said Ackad. “We just want people to take advantage of it.” The centre’s first objective has been to institute recycling programs in the borough’s apartment buildings, which didn’t exist. The implementation of the green bin program fell to Pierrefonds’ Éco-Quartier, which receives municipal funding, after the borough passed a bylaw last spring requiring buildings to offer the recycling bins. Ackad said the centre has succeeded in instituting recycling programs in 142 buildings. They are still working on converting another 203 buildings. “It has made a big difference,” Ackad said in an interview. “Recycling has gone up quite a bit. We now have 635 bins for apartments, condos, community centres and schools.” Schools used to just recycle paper products, but now the Éco-Quartier has helped them set up recycling programs for bottles and cans as well. But that is really just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, as far as the Éco-Quarter’s services are concerned. The centre also offers a battery collection service, and will accept used cell phones and ink cartridges as well. “Batteries and cells are especially bad for the environment,” Ackad said. They will also accept corks from wine bottles, which SOS Planète - the non-profit organization promoting green practices on the West Island which manages the Éco-Quarter - then turns into cork boards. Ackad said that residents can collect their used corks and bring them in even once a year. “We are always preaching the three Rs: reduce, re-use and recycle,” he said. “Anything that doesn’t need to end up in the garbage, shouldn’t be.” The centre also provides recycling bins to new residents or to people who need to replace theirs. They sell rain barrels and composters and offer advice on proper composting. They also sell environmentally-friendly products such as soaps, fair trade chocolate and biodegradable bags. Ackad is not in favour of grocery store chains eliminating the deposit made on plastic bottles. “People who need the money will do the work and bring the bottles back,” he said. “I think it would be a hit for the environment to eliminate this program. People might put them into recycling bins - but not everyone recycles.” Residents can call the Éco-Quartier with any environmental questions they have as well. “We’re just trying to get people to be environmentally aware so that they will recycle.” To contact the Éco-Quartier, call 514-752-0778 or 514-752-0978.