Press Room - Contacts

Waste Management receives authorization to expand
its Sainte-Sophie site
Landfill site to expand to receive one million tonnes per year

Sainte-Sophie, QC - Intersan, a subsidiary of Waste Management of Canada, announced today that it is pleased with the Government of Quebec's decision to authorize the expansion of its Sainte-Sophie landfill site for a period of about five years under an order issued in the last few days.

The authorization granted to Intersan for an annual capacity of one million tonnes per year enables it to remain a key municipal and commercial waste management infrastructure for the Greater Montréal area.

The decision follows the public environmental assessment review of Intersan's project, a procedure that includes, in particular, public consultations by the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE). These public hearings took place in December 2003 and January 2004, when Intersan's project and its associated impact assessments were reviewed by the different stakeholders interested in the matter.

"We are pleased with this government decision, which recognizes the Sainte-Sophie site as a reliable and an essential technological solution for waste management in Quebec," said Martin Dussault, Intersan's Public Affairs Director.

"During the entire environmental assessment process, initiated in 2002, we worked closely with community stakeholders to keep them informed of our intentions and to gather their comments for improving our project. It is with this environmental sensitivity that we intend to continue the long-term development of the Sainte-Sophie facilities," added Mr. Dussault.

A subsidiary of Waste Management of Canada, Intersan is a leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in Quebec. Across the country, Waste Management is the leading provider of residential, commercial and industrial waste collection, recycling and disposal services.

The Company employs 3,500 people at 116 locations in 8 provinces, servicing 4.5 million residential customers and 170,000 industrial and commercial customers. It also owns and/or operates 20 recycling recovery facilities as well as 18 landfill sites.