Climate disruption, more commonly known as global warming, is a pressing issue affecting communities globally: their economy, land and human health. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2022), we need to act immediately and cut emissions in all sectors if we wish to prevent a rise in temperature above 1.5°C. 

Every year, Quebec’s waste sector emits around “4.55 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent . . . and is the fifth largest contributor in the province . . . [Additionally,] 60 per cent of [the landfill] is organic matter” (Nicholson, 2020). Due to the lack of space and oxygen in landfills, wasted food cannot decompose properly. Instead, they partially decompose and release methane which has a more potent greenhouse effect than CO2. 

We can avoid most methane emissions by composting: organic waste is transported to a dedicated facility to produce compost in a controlled environment. The organic waste, if properly aerated (aerobic digestions), will produce traditional compost with minimal methane emission. On the contrary, specific composting facilities generate electricity through by collecting methane from biomethanation (anaerobic digestion) (GNR Québec Capital). Furthermore, the compost can then be used for agricultural purposes.

WE, the undersigned residents of Montreal, call upon to Jimmy Petropoulos, owner of Pointe-Claire’s Mr. Puffs, to compost major food wastes from the restaurant. 

Reference

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2022, April 4). The evidence is clear: the time for action is now. We can halve emissions by 2030. IPCC. https://www.ipcc.ch/2022/04/04/ipcc-ar6-wgiii-pressrelease/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CHaving%20the%20right%20policies%2C%20infrastructure,III%20Co%2DChair%20Priyadarshi%20Shukla. 

Nicholson J. (2020, July 10). Quebec government commits to province-wide composting by 2025. Advanced Waste Solutions. https://advancedwastesolutions.ca/quebec-government-commits-to-province-wide-composting-by-2025/ 

GNR Québec Capital. The biomethanation process. GNR Québec Capital. https://gnrqc.ca/en/the-anaerobic-digestion-process/?msclkid=72e5265fb8e611ec9e0fa0053e9326c2