Pontiac backs down on proposed waste incinerator project

The waste incinerator project in western Quebec will not go forward, after mayors of the Pontiac region votedunanimously to abandon the project on Wednesday.

It was proposed by Jane Toller, warden for the Pontiac regional county municipality which is comprised of 18 municipalities.

The regional county posted a statement on Facebookfrom Toller on Thursday, which said it will continue to work to find "the best regional solution for the elimination of the ultimate waste."

Litchfield Mayor ColleenLarivireproposed the resolution to abandon the project, citing citizen opposition in her municipality, among others.

Many have raised concerns about safety, environmental impact, and cost which was anticipated to be around $500 million.

A petition to cancel the incinerator was circulated by Friends of the Pontiac, a local grassroots group, and it raised concerns about "the abundance of scientific evidence that garbage incinerators emit highly toxic chemicals" and argued "there are plenty of alternatives."

Josey Bouchard, a spokesperson for Friends of the Pontiac, told Radio-Canada that cancelling the project was a "step in the right direction" but that they want to ensure an incinerator project of any size will "never be put in place" in Pontiac.

Toller saidearlier this year, she hoped the project would be an economic boost for the region in creating 800 jobs during its construction and 50 jobs when it was completed.

In a statement, Toller also noted Pontiac's responsibility to implement itsresidual material management plan for 2023-2030, which was adopted last October.

Ithas guidelines onreducing the amount of waste produced in the region.

"We must now put our efforts on implementing measures to reduce waste at source, notably by collecting recycling and composting," she said.