According to Mayor Joanne Labadie, the change comes after the departures of key employees who were working on the file as well as the need to finish certain infrastructure projects – some of which need to be completed this year in order to qualify for provincial grants.

The provincial grants were contingent on the municipality completing certain projects – like the upgrades to the water system in Quyon – in 2018. But with the flooding and the tornado, the municipality was granted a one-year extension.

“If we don’t get all that work done in 2019, we’ll lose that grant money and the village of Quyon desperately needs it.”

To compound matters, both former Assistant Director General, Dominic Labrie, and former Director General, Benedikt Kuhn, were working on the file until their subsequent departures. The composting plan was then taken on by Alain Bourgeouise, the Director of Infrastructure and Public Works.

Labadie also said that with so many priorities that are time sensitive, and an already short-staffed municipal administration, the composting plan has been put on the back burner.

“We just don’t have the time nor the expertise in house to really review this file in it’s entirety,” Labadie said.

As a result, Labadie said the municipality will explore renewing the existing contract with its waste removal contractor.

“We have a two-year renewable option with our garbage contractor and we’re exploring the options of exercising that because, there’s just no time,” Labadie said.

The province wants to eliminate all organic waste from landfills by 2020. In order for municipalities to qualify for provincial grants, they must take steps to cut back on the amount of organic waste residents send to landfills.

Last September, the municipality announced that it was going to partner with the municipalities of Chelsea and Cantley in a door-to-door composting plan that was due to be rolled out in June of this year.

Some residents have been vocal in their opposition to the plan and taken to social media to vent their frustrations.

Many of those who oppose the plan say that since they already compost at home, there is no need for the municipality to implement a plan with door-to-door pickup.

Labadie said that residents have expressed interest in several different options including at-home composting, door-to-door pickup as well as a hybrid option.

“What we need to do is explore all three options, do a benefit and cost analysis on all three options and see what is in the best interests of the entire municipality,” Labadie said.

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