We’ve all been there: coffee cup in hand, in front of several garbage cans, wondering what to do with it. Is the inner layer recyclable? What if there’s a little coffee left inside? You’re not alone in asking these questions. This article is not about sorting instructions, but rather about the reality of sorting in IGA stores. If you’re interested in the subject, you can read our blog, Sorting your waste: it’s easier than you think!

Imagine having to handle materials such as packaging, containers and food waste throughout your working day. Supermarket staff are confronted with this reality and don’t always know how to sort materials.

That’s exactly what I do: I work with retailers as a waste management consultant. This blog will immerse you in my day-to-day work, and who knows, maybe it will inspire you to join our team of 4 advisors!

Reduce landfill

Let’s get to the heart of the matter. The main objective of our program is to reduce as much as possible the amount of titanic materials sent to landfill and incineration sites. In fact, Quebec’s landfill sites are at the limit of their capacity, as this article in La Presse points out. This is precisely where my role as advisor comes into its own.

Thanks to the Fonds Éco IGA, we work with IGA supermarkets in Quebec and New Brunswick to help them manage the collection of cardboard, plastic stretch film, used oil, meat scraps, recyclables and compostable materials. When these materials are properly distributed among the various collections, very little waste remains.

But how do we achieve good results? Through regular calls, meetings, training and audit visits, we make sure that merchants set up the collections and use them optimally. What’s more, we make them aware of the importance of donating unsold food every week to organizations such as Moisson, part of the Quebec Food Banks, and the Société de Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, to name but a few.

On the road to meet IGA merchants

Whether you live in downtown Montreal or Sept-Îles on the North Shore, chances are there’s an IGA store near you. In fact, there are 294 of them, and you can locate them on this map showing their level of commitment to our program.

Fortunately, our team loves to drive. We’re big users of Communauto car-sharing. When we need to accompany a store to a remote area, we usually organize a tour over several days to visit other stores along the way. As you read this, I’m probably visiting stores in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region.

The successes and challenges of an advisor

We’re proud of our work, and we have good reason to be. Since the program began in 2013, we’ve diverted 426,000 tonnes of material from landfill, the equivalent weight of 2,840 blue whales.

For 2024, that’s already 32,000 tonnes diverted, including :

-17,000 tonnes of recycled cardboard ;

-7,000 tonnes of composted material;

-2,100 tonnes of food redistributed to charitable organizations;

However, we do face some challenges. Many stores lack the space to install large equipment, such as containers and bins for compostable or recyclable materials. Others don’t have access to compost collection, because no supplier comes to their area. We often have to be ingenious and creative to find the right solution for each store.

Has my work had an impact on my personal life? Yes, definitely. As well as becoming a “sorting expert”, I can’t help but observe how sorting is carried out as soon as I enter a store. I’m also developing a greater empathy for other jobs related to waste management, particularly the job of garbage collector, which can be very trying. If this article has sparked your interest in supermarket waste management, don’t hesitate to consult our job offers regularly!

Waste Management, Advisor

Sophie Lanctôt

Attracted to nature and the great outdoors, Sophie never misses an opportunity to leave the city to explore Quebec. Her studies in geography have allowed her to develop a great interest in environmental awareness and science popularization. For her, moments of friendly discussion over a glass of wine, good music and a board game are most enjoyable.

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