Operational since January 2, 2025, the Montreal-Est MRF processes 52 tons of residential single-stream recycling per hour (TPH), making it the largest and most technologically advanced recycling facility in Quebec, with an annual capacity of 200,000 tons. This project marks the beginning of a new era in recycling for Quebec.
At the Heart of the Circular Economy
Operated by Matrec, a division of GFL Environmental (Matrec – GFL), this MRF will play a key role in modernizing recycling and ensuring the sustainability of Quebec’s economy. Machinex has designed a reliable sorting system, not only tailored to the current needs of the Montreal-Est region but also capable of evolving to meet future demands.
“At Matrec – GFL, our vision is to be Green for Life. This is at the core of our corporate strategy and central to the work we do every day. This new sorting facility reflects our commitment to finding sustainable solutions that enhance material circularity, helping our communities envision a greener future,” states Yazan Kano, Vice President Strategy for Eastern Canada at Matrec – GFL.
“At Machinex, we are proud of our roots. We built the first MRF in Quebec, so contributing to improving recycling ‘at home,’ especially through a modernization of this magnitude, has special meaning for our team,” explains Pierre Paré, President and owner of Machinex.
The Montreal-Est facility is a tangible step toward achieving EPR objectives, with the circular economy at its core. Processing recyclable materials in an optimized sorting system equipped with advanced technologies and robust equipment, the facility increases recovery rates, enabling them to be resold to local companies for processing and reintegration into Quebec’s economy.
Tight Schedule, Challenge Met
This ambitious project was completed in an exceptional timeframe, designed, manufactured, delivered and fully operational within just 15 months. Its success is the result of effective communication and strong collaboration among all project stakeholders.
“Despite the tight schedule, the construction progressed smoothly thanks to the close coordination between Matrec – GFL, Machinex, and general contractor, Construction Bertrand Dionne (CBD). We implemented rigorous project management strategies, held weekly meetings, and adopted an approach focused on actively finding solutions whenever one of the three parties faced an unexpected event. This enabled us to deliver the project within the best possible timeline,” says Sébastien Labonté, Project Manager at CBD.An Advanced Sorting Solution
Drawing on its extensive experience, Machinex designed a system fully tailored to its operator’s needs. Capable of sorting cartons, glass, plastics (film, PET, HDPE, and mixed), various grades of fibers, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, this system integrates around fifteen proprietary technologies, including 17 MACH Hyspec® optical sorters. As the technological heart of the MRF, this equipment enables the separation of targeted materials at a rate of 3,000 ejections per minute, leveraging hyperspectral detection technology combined with Mach Vision™ – artificial intelligence, once again demonstrating Machinex’s commitment to tackling industry challenges.
Mechanical and hydraulic equipment are also integrated into the system, including MACH Ballistic separators, a glass cleaning system, and a plastic film extractor. Additionally, it features high-capacity Machinex balers, including a II-RAM Baler and two Single-Ram Balers. Notably, this sorting system incorporates the latest addition to the company’s pre-sort equipment solutions, the new MACH Screw Screen™.
The MACH Screw Screen™ ensures the mechanical pre-sort of incoming materials through size-based separation, reducing manual sorting and enhancing safety by eliminating hazardous bulk and small items. With two patent pending innovations, it features independent deck angle adjustments and a double-deck design, improving sorting accuracy. It also minimizes labor-intensive tasks, allowing employees to transition to more technical roles. Its integration reflects a modern and adaptable design for a sorting system.
“This ambitious project, which marks a turning point in the history of recycling in Quebec, was approached differently during the design phase to meet the requirements of EPR. Among the challenges considered were the recovery rates, the system’s flexibility to adapt to future unknown factors, and the number of various types of materials that needed to be sorted within the system,” explains David Marcouiller, Vice-President of Sales Engineering at Machinex.
About Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Québec
The modernization of Quebec’s curbside recycling, launched in January 2025, marks the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle. As the government-designated management organization, ÉEQ now oversees the curbside recycling system on behalf of producers—planning, coordinating, and optimizing all collection and processing operations. A key aspect of this modernization is raising performance and quality standards for recycling facilities, ensuring the optimal recovery and valorization of recyclable materials.
