City of Montreal survey on implementing organic material collection in buildings with 20 or more units

In 2021, the City of Montreal announced that residential buildings in Montreal with nine or more units, whether condominiums or rentals, will be able to compost their table waste by 2025.

The city is deploying a number of initiatives to establish itself as a leader in the ecological transition. At a time when major collective efforts are still needed to reach municipal and provincial targets for reducing residual materials, Montreal, with its urban density, is pursuing the implementation of organic materials collection in buildings with 9 or more units, which began in 2021.

At this rate, all buildings with 9 or more units, which make up 39% of its urban fabric, will be served by the end of 2025. By becoming the first major Canadian city to make compost collection available to its entire population, Montreal expects to see greater participation in the collection of organic materials.

The waste issue affects everyone in their daily lives and is a major challenge, particularly for co-ownerships. The various initiatives are certainly encouraging, but not all residents welcome them.

They also add to the workload of syndicates and managers, and while the objective is a worthy one, it brings a new set of challenges in terms of compliance.

These new collections offer several advantages, both environmental and economic, but these changes come inevitably with their share of challenges and nuisances, in buildings with more than 9 units: setting up new facilities or dedicated spaces, air-conditioned waste rooms, water intake to ensure regular and rigorous cleaning, volume of waste, odors, vermin, involvement of residents, costs, etc…

Taking action to encourage changes in behavior

To encourage participation in organic sorting, the City of Montreal has revamped its range of communication tools for owners of buildings with 9 or more units (notices, flyers, leaflets, posters and stickers for countertop bins), with reminders of the regulations and tips (ex: how to avoid odors).

The City of Montreal mandates organizations in most boroughs to carry out information, awareness and education activities, which are available to the public and building managers. You can contact your district to find out about all the resources available to help you set up composting in your building. Visit this section on montreal.ca.

In addition, Recyc-Québec has published an analysis of the factors influencing participation in organic material collection in multi-unit buildings, (French only) containing a wide range of information for building owners and managers to help them integrate this service into their buildings. They have also published various fact sheets documenting municipal cases (French only) that have set up this service on their territories.

Make your voice heard! A city of Montreal survey is underway

Recognizing that behavior change requires a collective commitment, the City of Montreal is currently surveying residential building managers to find out about waste management practices in multi-unit buildings, as well as perceptions, attitudes, and obstacles to participating in the various collections, particularly for recyclables and organic materials.

> Now is the time to make your voice heard and fill out the survey before September 30, 2023, by clicking here!

If you want to find out more about the subject, resources to learn more about the City of Montreal’s objectives and those of the Government of Quebec regarding the collection of organic materials are available in the Plan directeur de gestion des matières résiduelles 2020-2025 and in the Stratégie de valorisation de la matière organique. (French only)
Our previous article on composting in large buildings and the experience of the Syndicat de copropriété de Quartier 54, which has successfully set up a food waste collection system. (French only)

« Electric vehicle charging stations: What’s new in the “Roulez vert” program

Electric vehicle charging stations: What’s new in the “Roulez vert” program

Last April, several changes were made to each of the program’s components.

All five components of the program have been enhanced, representing another step forward in speeding up the adoption of electric cars in Quebec and the addition of home charging infrastructure! Are you aware of these changes?

We spoke to William Lemay-Choquette, Murbly*, Charging Solution Advisor, to find out more about these new features.

In multi-residential, Murbly points out that there have been several additions and increases in financial assistances:

Addition of multi-residential with three or four units built before October 1ᵉʳ, 2018 among eligible buildings.
Addition of eligible expenses relating to:
– professional services fees for the design of charging solutions and the preparation of plans and specifications,
– the cost of acquiring a device or software to manage the energy consumed for charging electric vehicles,
– the cost of permits required to carry out installation work,

Increase in the maximum financial assistance available per fiscal year and per type of eligible applicant and building.

Find out more about all the components on the Quebec government website by clicking here.

Here are the improvements for multi-unit residential buildings in comparison with old normative framework:

Maximum financial assistance per year:
3 to 9 units: $20,000
(formerly: 5 to 9: $10,000)

10 to 19 units: $40,000
(formerly: $20,000)

20 units or more: $49,000
(formerly: $25,000)

Eligible buildings

Buildings with 3 or more units
(formerly 5 or more)

Use of installed charging stations

Can be used by visitors to the eligible applicant if priority access remains with residents (formerly: for residents only)

Eligible expenses

Additions:

Professional service fees for the design of charging solutions and the preparation of plans and specifications
Costs of acquiring a device or software to manage the energy consumed by electric vehicle charging
Cost of permits required for installation work

The Murbly team reminds you that this new normative framework has been in effect since April 18, 2023, and will terminate upon the occurrence of the first of the following events:

- The budget allocated to the program priority or action is fully committed, OR
- The Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP) decides to terminate the program, OR
- March 31, 2026.

To make things easier and to keep you informed, you can download free sample documents and surveys, as well as relevant information resources, at murbly.com

See all the details of the “Roulez vert” program:

On the Ministère des transports site
Press release on the latest additions to the Roulez vert program (Available in French only)

Other useful resources for you information

*Murbly is an information platform, developed by RVE, to help condominium owners have access to electric vehicle charging at home. It offers information resources, tools, and strategies to facilitate the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in co-ownership buildings. Their role is to support co-ownership syndicates in their project to install charging infrastructure. The team works alongside members of the boards of directors to suggest an approach to the implementation of the project based on the reality and issues specific to each building.
The Hydro-Québec electric vehicle charging for multi-unit residential buildings guide. It provides advice on how to proceed, installation and use conditions, and available solutions (see page 31: installation in a co-ownership or apartment building).
The Quebec government’s Roulez vert program “Roulez vert” is a Quebec government program that encourages the acquisition of electric vehicles and the installation of charging stations through the granting of financial assistance.
Our previous Blog post “Bornes de recharge pour véhicules électriques: le point sur les programmes de subventions pour les syndicats.” (Available in French only)