Service de l’environnement
The Service de l’environnement manages the quality of the air, water, soil and food in Montréal as well as waste materials (garbage, recycling, etc.). It also develops policies and action plans to advance sustainable development in Montréal.
Mission
The mission of the Service de l’environnement (SENV) is to improve the population’s quality of life and living environment across the Montréal agglomeration. It fulfills its mission by raising public awareness on environmental issues, promoting and monitoring the quality of the physical environment, acting to ensure responsible management of waste materials and resources across the region, and monitoring the quality and safety of food in food-related establishments.
SENV also acts as an environmental protection expert on behalf of Montréal and borough departments, related cities and other agencies and, in this role, develops policies, programs and action plans, all consistent with the green transition. To ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, it issues environmental permits and monitors industrial emissions through air and water sampling.
Air Quality
The Réseau de surveillance de la qualité de l’air (RSQA) plays a leading environmental role. Measurements of various air pollutants taken at its sampling stations are used to publish these data (in French) in real time.
Aquatic Quality
The Réseau de suivi du milieu aquatique (RSMA) analyzes and documents the quality of Montréal’s surrounding waterways. The RSMA conducts sampling on these tests and interprets up to 20,000 chemical, physical and bacteriological tests per year.
The network began its activities in the 1970s, at a time when the waters surrounding the island of Montréal were of poor quality. Its objective was to gain an overview of water quality before and after the installation of a wastewater interception and treatment system. The RSMA went on to develop various water sampling programs, including COURDO, QUALO, RUISSO, and PLUVIO. All were geared to enhancing waterways and prioritizing actions aimed at protecting them.
Please view the map (in French) of water quality, measured under RSMA sampling programs.
Quick links
Latest Reports
Plans and strategies
2022 Priority Actions
- Continue to implement the 2020-2025 PDGMR (zero-waste plan) according to the announced priorities:
- Produce a strategy for reducing clothing waste and food waste beginning with the submission of responses to the recommendations of the Commission sur l’eau, l’environnement, le développement durable et les grands parcs (CEEDDP) regarding food waste.
- Continue to deploy food waste collection in dwellings of nine or more units and in certain businesses, institutions and industries, with priority given to schools (more than 34,000 doors targeted to reach 26 per cent of buildings with nine or more housing units by the end of 2022, testing of different collection methods to optimize participation in collection, and implementation of the associated information, awareness and education strategy).
- Plan the implementation of extended responsibility for producers of recyclable materials, including the rollout of the extended deposit by the end of 2022.
- Finalize and launch two organic material processing centres (CTMO), in Saint-Laurent and Montréal-Est;
- Revise planning for other CTMOs to adequately address long-term needs (actual quantities generated);
- Start decontamination work on the site targeted for another CTMO in LaSalle and the adjacent land available for industrial development;
- Finalize the improvements to the air quality monitoring network and put the various equipment planned into service;
- Revise the by-laws on air contaminant emissions and on wastewater discharge;
- Negotiate a new three-year agreement with MAPAQ and adapt food inspection activities to the new post-pandemic reality while ensuring food safety;
- Promote the city’s expertise in order to help merchants reduce their ecological footprint;
- Plan and prepare the upgrading of the laboratory located on Rue Crémazie.
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