RCI Environnement is always trying to improve its clients' environmental performance and to reduce its environmental footprint.
We improve our clients' environmental performance in a number of ways, by:
- Using a range of containers that are forever being better adapted to client needs so as to allow for all materials to be collected without sorting, to integrate attractive containers at the work place or at a site, and to teach children and adults the importance of recycling.
- Promoting RECYC Québec's ICI On Recycle! Program and our experts' tips to help clients encourage recycling and salvage programs with a view to becoming officially certified.
- Producing Le Virage, a quarterly environmental bulletin that teaches our clients and partners the best practices for managing waste and the services and technologies that are available.
- Developing a complete electronic business cycle to reduce paper consumption (on-line billing, direct deposit, pre-authorized credit card transactions or payments).
- Taking part in a wide array of demonstrations, major events and television programs teaching young people and the general public the importance of salvaging and recycling waste.
We improve environmental performance in a number of ways, by:
- Reducing paper consumption - Various measures were implemented at all levels of the organization to optimize paper consumption:
- We only purchase paper made from 100% recycled fibre manufactured using a renewable energy source, with no acid or chorine.
- Our printers were changed to only print back to front.
- We encourage employees to make photocopies back to front.
- Most of our administrative documents are available and used in electronic format.
In 1998, we recycled more than 92% of residual waste and received Performance certification from Recyc-Québec, the highest rating for the ICI-ON Recycle! program.
Since June 2008, all of our trucks have been powered using biodiesel, with concentrations varying from 5% from spring to autumn to 2% in the winter. Thanks to this natural fuel, which generates up to 91% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional diesel fuel, we will reduce our trucks' emissions by at least 500 tonnes per year.
Gestion environnementale Nord-Sud, RCI Environnement's sister company, completed approximately $1.5 million in work in 2008 to improve sewage treatment at the Lachute technical landfill site. After operating for nearly a year, the new equipment has shown its effectiveness by cutting DBO5 by 97%, ammonia nitrogen levels by 69%, and suspended matter by 93%. With these excellent results, the technical landfill site is in compliance with effluent standards issued by the Régie Intermunicipale Argenteuil-Deux-Montagnes (RIADM).
