On May 16, the Municipality of Franklin took a significant step towards regional sustainable development by officially inaugurating its ecocentre during a brief ceremony.
The intermunicipal project was carried out in partnership with six neighbouring municipalities, including Havelock, Saint-Chrysostome, Dundee, Hinchinbrooke, Howick, and Très-Saint-Sacrement. Representatives from all six municipalities took part in the inauguration, as well as Huntingdon MNA Carole Mallette.
The ecocentre, which is located at 2177 Chemin Demers in Saint-Antoine-Abbé, was designed to provide efficient and responsible waste management services to citizens of the six communities.
The $150,000 project was funded in large part by a $95,838 grant from RECYC-QUÉBEC through the Programme d’Aide Financière Visant l’Optimisation du Réseau d’Écocentres Québécois.
“This large-scale project was made possible thanks to the collaboration of six municipalities united by a common vision: a more sustainable future for our communities,” said Franklin’s Mayor Yves Métras, who referred to the new infrastructure as much more than a storage facility.
“The ecocentre symbolizes our commitment to the environment, our collective responsibility, and our desire to offer our citizens accessible services that respect our territory,” he explained, while inviting residents to see the infrastructure as “a tool for positive change for today and for future generations.”
Citizens may use the drop-off point to dispose of bulky and oversized items as well as household, refrigeration and technological appliances, hazardous household waste, construction, renovation and demolition waste, number 3 and number 6 plastics (polystyrene), PVC, and tires that are less than 22 inches and without rims.
A valid proof of residence as well as proof of origin for waste materials will be required. Residents may use the facilities up to 15 times per calendar year to drop off the equivalent of a small trailer or pickup truck box of pre-sorted materials at one time.
Mallette congratulated the municipalities for working together, while highlighting their collective commitment to sustainable development, responsible waste management, and providing services tailored to address local needs.
The ecocentre will be open to the public as of May 23. Residents of the six municipalities may access the site from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.