Residual material

Starting in January 2026, the Municipality of the Township of Potton is implementing a pilot project to improve the complaint procedure for waste collection.

As you know, since January 1, 2026, your blue recycling bin has been collected by a new provider, managed by the MRC de Memphrémagog. The collection times for this bin may therefore differ from previous years. The collection of organic waste (brown bin) and garbage (green bin) will continue to be handled by the same provider as in recent years.

Given these changes, we would like to establish a new procedure for issues, complaints, and comments regarding this year’s collections. The pilot project consists of four steps, as follows:

Step 1: Make sure the appropriate bin is at the curb and properly positioned the evening before collection. SCHEDULE

Step 2: Was your bin not picked up on the scheduled collection day? First, be aware that with the new provider or when the weather is inclement, there may be delays, breakdowns, or unforeseen circumstances. However, if there is a problem or an oversight, a form is available for you. *Please note that if you live on a private road and its condition is deemed unsafe, collection will be postponed until the next collection.

Step 3: The Municipality contacts the contractor to follow up on complaints and comments.

Step 4: The Municipality follows up with the people who filed complaints before the deadline. Corrective measures will be taken at addresses where service is lacking.

We hope this will promote good communication and collaboration between the Municipality, citizens, and suppliers in order to provide you with adequate and efficient service.

Residual Material Pick-Ups: tips to avoid problems.

For all citizens, these are some problems and causes that should be respected, basic instructions for collection.

Municipal residual material pick-ups

Drop-off for residual material

You have missed a pick-up ? Drop-off for residual material at the location (chemin du Traitement-des-Eaux, near Bellevue) is open every Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm to receive materials usually picked up door-to-door.
Accepted: only recyclable materials (blue bin), organics (brown bin) and final waste.

Residual Material:

Please click on the following links:

• Streets are not trash cans
• The toilet is not a trash can
• Reusable bags
• Soiled Material
• Refundable containers

Organic material

In addition to the material usually disposed of in a domestic composter, the third-way pick-up allows to compost meat, fish, dairy products, fats such as oils and even paper napkins, cardboard soiled by food (pizza boxes or plates) as well as compostable tableware !

Guidelines

Kitchen countertop bin: Line the bottom of your kitchen countertop bin with newspaper

Brown bin: Organic materials may be deposited in the brown bin in bulk or in paper bags. To facilitate the use, you can:

• Place cardboard or newspaper at the bottom of bin to facilitate the emptying process
• Add in layers, by alternating between newspaper sheets and wet organic matter
• Package material in newspaper or paper bags before placing them into bin
• To reduce potential odours, place bin in shaded area, if possible

If necessary, secure the lid with a bungee cord.

Attention! Compostable starch bags (looking like plastic) are not accepted.

The use of regular plastic bags or oxobiodegradable plastic bags is not permitted.

Materials accepted in the recycling bin (blue)

Since January 1, 2025, new recycling rules have been in place in Quebec. For full details on recycling, visit the website: Récupérer – ABC des bacs

There is a tool called Ça va où ? if you need to know what goes in which bin.

Plastics #6 like yogourt pot can go in the recycling bin.

Blue bin replacement or repair: Potton residents can now apply directly to the MRC de Memphrémagog for blue bin replacement or repair. Please follow the instructions on this citizen form.

Residual Waste

Residual Waste is the waste that is not recyclable nor compostable !

Residual waste will be collected in green, black or gray bins of size 360, 240 or 120 liters.

Bulky items

The annual pick-up of bulky items is replaced by a new home pick-up service by appointment. We now have an agreement with la Ressourcerie des Frontières, an organization that collects bulky items to provide them with a second home or recycle them up to 90%. You can dispose of your bulky items or small items throughout the year as follows (you do not need stay home on the day of pick-up):

Contact the Ressourcerie at 819-804-1018, Toll-free: 1-855-804-1018 or info@ressourceriedesfrontieres.com – New store location in Magog at 250, rue Principale Est

• List the items to be picked up as accurately as you can (to estimate the amount of truck space required) and provide your address and contact information.
• Allow approximately three weeks for pick-up (to optimize transport efficiency). The Ressourcerie will contact you 24 to 48 hours before pick-up to confirm the date.
• Prepare the items to be picked up: Gather small objects into boxes. If possible, wait until the day of the pick-up to place your items outdoors. Place items outdoors, in an area sheltered from the weather or under a tarp and ensure that the truck can access them easily (not on the side of the road).

This service is offered on routes normally serviced by the door-to-door pick-up. For other roads, the Ressourcerie will evaluate each case to decide whether they are able to reach the site.
Please continue to support the Reilly House which accepts items in good condition such as furniture, toys, clothing, etc.

Wheeled Bins

Roadside Placement and Return of Bins on Pickup Day

• Place bins on the side of the road the night before;
• Bins must be removed from the roadside no later than twelve (12) hours after the pickup;
• It is also necessary to provide a space of 20” separating the bins or any other object (shelter of bins, mailbox etc.)
• Place bins as close as possible about 3.5′ from roadside;
• The front of the bins must face the road/wheels towards your property (see picture below);
• 
• Do not leave any material on the lid and make sure that the container is properly closed and that nothing is sticking out;
•  It is not necessary to systematically (at all collections) put your bin on the road side if it is not full.

Bin Shelters

Shelters for bins may consist of a hedge and/or structures made from wood or other materials. For shelters (excluding hedges), the following guidelines apply:

• No building or other permit is required for the construction or installation;
• The materials used should be similar to the materials used for the residence;
• Only one shelter per property is permitted;
• Shelters are strictly to be used for bins;
• Shelters must be placed no closer than 1.5 meters to the side (lateral) or back property line;
• Shelters may be installed on the front yard only if the property is located outside the urban area; in this instance shelters may be installed up to the frontline;
• Shelters must be located outside the municipal right of way, and in no way should they hinder road maintenance and snow removal;
• Shelters must be kept clean and well maintained.

The residual material pickup contractor is not required to take the bins from the shelter and/or place them back; this is the responsibility of the residents.

In order to plan the size of the shelter, here are the sizes of the wheeled bins :
240 litres brown bin (for most residences) : Width of 26,70 inches/67,81 cm and height of 40,50 inches/102,87 cm
360 litres brown bin (for business or shared bins by townhouses, condos, and common spaces) and blue bin : Width of 28,70 inches/72,89 cm and height of 45,13 inches/114,63 cm

The Ecocentre is designed to receive the waste that you can not put out for the door-to-door pick-up. It is situated on Chemin du Traitement-des-Eaux in May.

ECOCENTER 2026 season: SATURDAYS from May 2nd to October 24, 8am to 4:30pm

*Please note that there is no ramp at the new location. You are responsible for unloading your own materials.

IMPORTANT! You must have proof of residency in Potton or your valid citizen card (to be produced or renewed at the library during opening hours).

In 2026, Potton residents can get their one-time use voucher for a  free 1m3 load at ecocenter. Vouchers can be collected at Town Hall with proof of residence.

• PAYMENT METHOD WITHOUT CONTACT: Debit card accepted only. Cash not accepted.

The following materials are accepted:

• Construction, renovation and demolition materials (CRD)
• Bulky items
• Household hazardous waste
• Metal, asphalt shingles
• Tires
• Textiles
• Electronic material
• Dead leaves
• Reusable items (see full list in the PDF document)
• Polystyrene expanded only
• Organic material, recyclable material and waste

The ecocentre is not a free service. A part of the operation costs are reflected in your annual tax rate for garbage and recycling. However, for the sake of application of the “user-payer”, certain materials (ex. construction materials and bulky items) are charged at the ecocentre on a quantity basis.

***When the ecocenter is closed, it is forbidden to drop off items at the entrance to the site, or to engage in any kind of illegal dumping. If you need to dispose of bulky items, contact the Cowansville regional ecocenter for conditions and prices:

2500, rang Saint-Joseph,
Cowansville, Quebec J2K 0R7

450 263-2351

For questions about the ecocentre, you may call René Vachon 450 292-3313 ext.234 or Jason Sherrer at ext.225

Starting May 3, 2026, Potton residents will be able to pick up compost and drop off their branches on Sundays from 1 PM to 5 PM at the ecocenter.

In 2026, compost will be available while supplies last. This compost comes from our brown bins and can be used to grow flowers.

Purchase of domestic composters

The MRC Memphrémagog finances the purchase of domestic composters.
For more information, visit this link. (In French only)

Do you need help with composting ?

There are new books on composting available at the library in both English and French.

In English :

The Complete Compost Gardening Guide. Barbara Pleasant & Deborah Martin
Let it Rot!: The Gardener’s Guide to Composting. Stu Campbell
Worms Eat My Garbage. Mary Appelhof

Flyer on home composting :

Presentation on home composting:

How to build a composter (french):

The Municpality offers a subsidy for the purchase of cloth diapers

Criteria for Participation:

• Purchase a set of at least 20 cloth diapers (the application must be submitted to the Municipality no later than 90 days following the date of purchase)
• Complete the Reimbursement Application Form
• Attach the original purchase invoice, a copy of a proof of residence, and a copy of a proof of birth
• Report to the Town Hall to submit the documents

The Municipality has a Zero Waste Events Policy

This Guide to Zero Waste will help you plan your Zero waste event

Accepted :

• Expanded polystyrene (should go to ecocentre): Packaging for electronic and household appliances, coffee cups, coolers.
• Extruded polystyrene (can go in the blue bin) : Disposable plates and bowls, egg packaging, trays for meat, fish and poultry, fast-food containers.
• #6 Plastics can go in the blue recycling bin.

Preparation of polystyrene containers :

• Remove labels
  • Remove any adhesive tape
  •  Remove the absorbent pads
  •  Remove peelable lids
  •  Wash the containers

You may bring polystyrene at the new Ecocentre location (chemin du Traitement-des-Eaux) on Saturdays from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. from May to October and every Sunday of the year from 1 PM to 5 PM (except Christmas Holidays)