{"id":10320,"date":"2022-02-17T15:13:40","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T20:13:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legroupemaurice.com\/?p=10320"},"modified":"2025-03-13T10:47:56","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T14:47:56","slug":"waste-management-le-groupe-maurice-has-a-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legroupemaurice.com\/en\/articles\/waste-management-le-groupe-maurice-has-a-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Waste management: Le Groupe Maurice has a plan!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Waste management is a massive social issue that requires time, energy and reflection. As the owner of several residences in Quebec, Le Groupe Maurice is highly concerned about the amount of waste it generates. Despite the adoption of some sound habits, new environmental regulations in certain municipalities has forced the company to revisit the way it thinks and acts. We met with Marc Ouimet, Assistant Vice-President, Operations and Related Services, to talk about his plan.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Waste management: an obligation to do better<\/strong><\/p>\n

Waste management has been a concern for Le Groupe Maurice\u2019s managers, employees and residents for many years now.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough garbage is hardly a sexy topic, we have to think about it, because we produce waste every day. In my opinion, we were doing a very good job of recycling cardboard, glass, metal\u2026 But we weren\u2019t doing enough to recover biodegradable waste,\u201d explains Marc Ouimet.<\/p>\n

However, the recent construction of the VAST retirement residence has changed all that. The City of Sainte-Julie has implemented sustainable development measures that require the installation of facilities for the collection of organic waste. This obligation led Le Groupe Maurice to ask new questions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe realized that we could try to create a circular economy, where waste finds a second, third or even fourth life instead of ending up in a landfill. It was an opportunity we had to seize,\u201d continues Marc Ouimet.<\/p>\n

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WASTE CHARACTERIZATION AT VAST: MOTIVATING FIGURES! <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
Quantity of waste per resident: 295 kg\/year\r\n\r\nRate of recycled materials: 85%\r\n\r\nRate of diverting organic materials from technical landfills: 17%\r\n\r\nRate of contamination of recyclable and organic materials: 1%<\/strong><\/pre>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Step\u00a01 \u2013 Survey residents on their interest in waste collection and sorting<\/h5>\n
But first, Le Groupe Maurice had to find out how receptive residents were to waste sorting. We therefore surveyed the population of four residences: Borea, Station East, ORA and VAST.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were pleased to find that 90% of residents were already recycling. Personally, I was surprised! I think it\u2019s amazing that residents and Le Groupe Maurice employees have it in their DNA. This statistic alone made us optimistic about implementing an organic waste sorting system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Step\u00a02 \u2013 Get a picture of the situation and extrapolate the data<\/h5>\n
After analyzing the data, Mr. Ouimet and his team decided to conduct a characterization study to determine the nature of the materials that residents and employees were throwing away. This study took place at VAST.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe felt there was a keen interest in this residence. It must be said that the people of Sainte-Julie are already accustomed to selective collection.\u201d<\/p>\n
To accomplish the work, Le Groupe Maurice hired the engineering consulting firm Eur\u00eaka Environnement, which specializes in the management of residual materials. This company, which is made up of engineers and technologists, offers its support to private and public organizations with regard to the recovery of residual materials.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe installed a sorting centre in the VAST residence garage, and the experts from Eureka Environnement analyzed the waste.\u2009This exercise showed that the residents and employees of Le Groupe Maurice were highly meticulous. Sorting is really the key to selective collection,\u201d says Marc Ouimet.<\/p>\n
Step\u00a03 \u2013 Develop and implement a waste management plan<\/h5>\n
Eur\u00eaka Environnement\u2019s work will allow the development and implementation of a waste management plan for all Le Groupe Maurice residences.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment, not all cities require selective waste collection and recycling of residual materials. However, the time will come when they will have to put rules and programs in place because of the targets set by the government. At Le Groupe Maurice, we like to be proactive rather than reactive. It\u2019s up to us to take the bull by the horns and propose solutions to municipalities, which are key players in the management of residual materials and their recovery. In short, we need to work together to create a circular economy. Here, we\u2019re bursting with ideas. And we\u2019re full of enthusiasm.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the coming years, Le Groupe Maurice will focus on implementing means to facilitate the recovery and reuse of residual materials in its current and future residences.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, this is not a race. It\u2019s not a destination either. It\u2019s a journey that\u2019s going to be part of our lives, but I think we\u2019re there. We have to keep up with it to stay current. Of course, every home is different. Every municipality is different. We\u2019ll have to adapt to their reality. Our role is to listen and to integrate waste management into our practices. It\u2019s one of our commitments and it\u2019s extremely important to us,\u201d concludes Marc Ouimet.<\/p>\n
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For more information, watch the video (in French only)<\/p>\n