Quebec's Waste Reduction Week 2024 takes place from October 21 to 27. On this occasion, the MRC of Vaudreuil-Soulanges encourages citizens to adopt consumption habits that help reduce the amount of residual waste.

By using the web tool www.tricycle-mrcvs.ca, residents can better understand which materials are accepted in the recycling bin, compost bin, or at the Ecocentre Network, helping to divert more waste from landfills.

Source Reduction

Reducing consumption and waste production helps minimize the environmental impact of landfilling. Considering that the best way to reduce waste is not to produce any in the first place, the MRC promotes simple practices that can be adopted.

1. Avoid single-use items
   It may be tempting to opt for the easy solution by using single-use products. However, ecological and often economical solutions, such as reusable dishes, fabric bags, and bulk purchases, can meet our needs just as well once we get used to them.

2. Assess your needs
   When individuals assess their needs properly, it's easier to identify what is truly necessary. This helps avoid overconsumption and food waste. The MRC also encourages the public to consider reusing items, giving them a second life through donation, repair, or resale at affordable prices.

3. Choose materials that are accepted in the blue or brown bin
   When purchasing, ask yourself if the packaging or other elements you will dispose of can be recycled or composted, to avoid sending them to landfills. The MRC invites you to watch a video on this topic and use the Tricycle tool to help properly sort your materials.

4. Use the Ecocentre Network
   For materials that cannot be recycled, composted, or reused, the MRC offers the Ecocentre Network, which allows for the responsible disposal of a wide range of items. Ecocentre services help divert significant amounts of waste from landfills, recycling, repurposing, or disposing of it in an environmentally responsible way.

SQRD also provides a toolkit with ideas and tips to make adopting new lifestyle habits easier and consume differently.

Take advantage of tailored advice for various daily life situations and adopt new strategies to help you reach the Zero Waste goal: https://sqrd.org/zastuces-reduction/.

Additionally, this year’s edition offers a variety of in-person and online events, including panels, training sessions, and webinars.

For the full program and to register: https://sqrd.org/evenements/.