Groupe Bellemare is pleased to announce that it has obtained the environmental approvals needed to expand its glass recovery capacity, through the commissioning of its new optical sorters and the completion of its drying line.
This milestone matters on two fronts: it supports Québec's glass recycling targets and it improves quality of life for residents living near the company's Trois-Rivières facility.
A pivotal step ahead of March 1, 2027
With less than a year remaining before the deposit return program expands to cover all glass containers on March 1, 2027, this approval delivers a durable, structuring solution to help Québec meet its recycling targets. Groupe Bellemare is one of the few Québec companies equipped to manage the full glass value chain required to reach these goals.
A long-awaited resolution for the 20 homes in the Vieilles-Forges neighbourhood
These same approvals will allow the company to roll out its remaining mitigation measures, aimed mainly at reducing noise experienced by roughly twenty homes near the facility in the Vieilles-Forges area. Groupe Bellemare has worked transparently and openly with the City of Trois-Rivières and the public health department since the outset of this file and takes residents' concerns seriously.
A few key facts
- $5.8 million invested in concrete mitigation measures over the past 12 months (noise, odours, dust, water).
- A plan of more than 38 measures is ready for deployment, with each issue raised by the ministry matched to a specific corrective action.
- Groupe Bellemare works actively with the 20 directly affected homes through a structured monitoring committee.
- The most significant measures were awaiting approval from the MELCCFP: enclosing the screening equipment, acoustic barriers, raising the stacks and containing emissions under a dome. These measures are the result of close collaboration between the MELCCFP and the Bellemare team, which presented a comprehensive plan a year ago.
Responsibilities the company takes seriously
Groupe Bellemare is committed to both the smooth operation of glass recycling in Québec and maintaining a harmonious relationship with the small number of homes near its operations.
Over the coming weeks, the company will roll out a plan to meet its recycling objectives while progressively reducing nuisances as much as possible.
