Where Montreal’s trash really goes — and how the city’s teaching everyone to cut back

City officials want to educate Montrealers on the importance of waste management. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News)

City officials are putting trash under the microscope for the 25th edition of Quebec Waste Reduction Week (Semaine québécoise de réduction des déchets).

During a “trash autopsy” in Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension on Thursday, City of Montreal spokesperson Philippe Sabourin and a municipal inspector opened garbage bags at random to see what residents are throwing away.

The goal, Sabourin said, is to put more emphasis on educating the population on individual waste management.

“It’s a collaboration between the city and citizens,” said Sabourin. “Taking care of cleanliness and the environment starts with small gestures at home.”

Of the nearly half a million tonnes of household waste Montrealers send to landfill each year, the City found only about 15 per cent of it actually belongs there. The rest is mostly compostable or recyclable material that could have been sorted.

For organic waste that’s properly sorted, Sabourin explained saving it from ending up in the landfill allows it not to go to waste.

“We’re turning all that organic waste, directly on the island, into compost that nourishes the soil,” he explained. “It’s used in our parks and redistributed to residents as well.”

He pointed out that sorting properly also helps keep pests like squirrels or raccoons out of garbage bins.

Still, Sabourin reminds residents it isn’t just a good habit — it’s the law.

“Sorting items is an obligation,” he said. “You have to obey the bylaw.”

The waste collection bylaw requires residents to sort what they intend to dispose of, follow collection schedules, and use the appropriate bins.

Failing to sort waste accordingly can result in a fine starting at $200 — about 1,000 of them were issued by the city last year.

Still, with roughly 100 inspectors responsible for enforcing the bylaw across all of Montreal, Sabourin said identifying the rightful owner of a specific trash bag can be difficult.

“Most of the time we issue warning tickets instead,” Sabourin said. “We want people to be more informed and educated about the importance of sorting at home.”

When a particular neighbourhood struggles with compliance, the city teams up with non-profit organizations to raise awareness.

“After we give warning tickets, we will have a non-profit organization come with us for door-knocking,” said Sabourin. “It’s a way to make sure people have the right information and are reminded of why sorting matters.”

Last year, Sabourin said Montreal hosted about 60 kiosks in local parks to “sensibilize, inform and educate” residents on how to reduce waste.

This year’s message remains the same: sorting correctly makes a measurable difference — for the city and the environment.