Financial assistance program aimed at optimizing Quebec's network of eco-centers

• Minimum financial assistance per project: $30,000
• Maximum financial assistance per project: $400,000
• The maximum cumulative financial assistance for any applicant is $400,000 across all their applications (distinct projects or project phases only)
• Financial assistance may cover up to 70% of total eligible project expenses and is provided as a non-repayable contribution
• The combined government support (provincial and federal) may not exceed 80% of eligible expenses, but may reach 100% if public funding covers the balance

• The applicant must be a municipal organization (municipality, regional county municipality (MRC), or municipal sector organization) or an Indigenous organization (band council of an Indigenous community, Indigenous community, corporation of a northern village, northern village, or Indigenous landholding corporation).
• The applicant must be legally constituted and have a business location in Quebec.
• The project must fit into one of the two following categories: establishment of a new ecocentre or optimization/accessibility improvement of an existing ecocentre.
• The project must be entirely carried out in Quebec and focus on materials generated within Quebec.
• The project and applicant must comply with applicable laws and regulations, including environmental compliance.

Who is eligible?

• Municipal organizations (municipalities, regional county municipalities (MRCs), municipal sector organizations)
• Band councils of Indigenous communities, Indigenous communities
• Corporations of Northern villages, Northern villages, and Indigenous landholding corporations

Who is not eligible

• Companies or applicants listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA), including their partners, subcontractors, or affiliates.
• Entities under protection of the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
• Applicants whose prior grant agreements with RECYC-QUÉBEC were terminated due to default within the past two years (unless exception applies as outlined by the program).
• Organizations with unethical conduct that could negatively affect the government's integrity or reputation.
• Applicants not in compliance with environmental regulations or any entity that has not met its obligations to public ministries or agencies, including those with unsatisfactory contractor performance records.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries of employees directly involved in the project.
• Professional fees for specialized subcontractors directly involved in the project, such as for studies, plans, equipment installation, or work supervision.
• Purchase or rental of equipment, materials, and supplies necessary for project realization (e.g., containers, tools, industrial scales, bins, technology devices), including software for project needs (for the project duration if rented).
• Purchase or rental of vehicles or rolling stock necessary and exclusively for use at the targeted eco-center(s) (e.g., vans, cube trucks, backhoes, utility vehicles) — limited to 25% of the cost and only for the project duration if rented.
• Delivery fees for equipment acquired under the project.
• Construction, purchase, or modification costs for buildings or infrastructure directly related to the project.
• Rental costs for buildings or infrastructure, for the project duration.
• Expenses for communication measures necessary for the project (e.g., graphic design, production and distribution of visuals, communication tools, printing costs).
• Expenses related to startup and commissioning activities required to initiate the project (excluding salaries).
• Expenses required to meet obligations rendered necessary by the project’s realization, provided they are not otherwise considered non-eligible.
• Expenses to improve the management of hazardous household waste, if not otherwise ineligible.
• Contingency fees up to 10% of total eligible non-committed expenses.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

• Maturity and quality of the project, including feasibility and identification of key personnel and resources.
• Precision and realism of the project schedule, ensuring the likelihood of completion within the required timeframe.
• Relevance of the project to the program’s objectives.
• Demonstrated viability and sustainability of solutions and outcomes, including market opportunities for recovered materials.
• Justification and appropriateness of project costs and financial viability.

• A performance measurement process must be implemented to track project outcomes.
• All documents submitted must be in French, unless an exception applies under the Charter of the French Language.
• The grant recipient must obtain the "Mise en œuvre" or higher recognition level of the ICI ON RECYCLE + program to receive the final payment.
• Non-public organizations may be required to provide additional documents such as financial statements and a declaration regarding lobbying activities.