In so doing, Saint-Laurent residents will be able to receive funds for the purchase of:

• sustainable feminine hygiene products  
• environmentally-friendly hygiene products
• emergency preparedness kits
   

In taking this initiative, Saint-Laurent is the first borough in Montréal to offer financial assistance for the purchase of emergency preparedness kits, which are designed to raise awareness among residents about the importance of having the necessary equipment to deal with a natural disaster.

 These financial assistance programs are in addition to the environmentally-friendly cloth baby diapers funded by the borough since 2016.

 Available to all residents, these programs meet the objectives of Arrondissement de Saint-Laurent’s 2021-2030 Climate emergency plan, which aims to implement initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced on Saint-Laurent territory and to increase the community’s resilience.

“We are proud to present these new programs that will provide each and every recipient with an opportunity to do their part to preserve the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With the implementation of these financial incentives, we also want to encourage Saint-Laurent residents to adopt healthy eco-responsible habits by opting for reusable products. Moreover, as we have noticed in the last few years, emergency situations are on the rise throughout the world. So it is important that in these extreme cases, everyone can ensure their own safety and that of their family with the help of an emergency preparedness kit.”

Details of the programs

Financial assistance for the purchase of sustainable feminine hygiene products
Financial assistance offered: 50% of the total bill, up to a maximum of $75 before tax, per person
Eligible products : menstrual cups, washable menstrual panties, washable sanitary napkins, washable inserts

Financial assistance for the purchase of environmentally-friendly hygiene products
Financial assistance offered: 50% of the total bill, up to a maximum of $75 before tax, per person
Eligible products : washable panties and other washable underwear for bladder weakness and incontinence, waterproof bags for sustainable washable hygiene products, washable inserts, washable potty training pants, washable diapers for adults

Financial assistance for the purchase of an emergency preparedness kit
Financial assistance offered: 50% of the total bill, up to a maximum of $125, before tax, for the purchase of an emergency kit for home or a road safety kit for a car: one per address
Eligible products : Emergency preparedness kit for home and for car

Higher amounts of financial assistance are offered to low-income families.

The urgency to act

According to data from the Groupe de recommandations et d’actions pour un meilleur environnement (GRAME), in Montréal alone, nearly 1422 tons of personal hygiene products end up in landfill sites each year. Made of various plastic materials, these disposable protection products can contain 20-30 chemicals, making them non-recyclable and non-compostable. It is estimated that these products will take approximately 450 years to completely decompose. It is therefore essential to avoid the use of this type of product in order to reduce the amount of waste material sent to landfill sites and, consequently, greenhouse gas emissions as well. 

At the same time, for decades, scientific reports from recognized national and international organizations have been sounding the alarm about the emergencies caused by climate change, including average temperature increases, droughts, extreme heat, heavy rains, floods and destructive storms.

It is estimated that the consequences will be severe on the environment and the economy as well as on the health and safety of populations. As it had already done with the Rendez-vous de l’écocitoyen in October 2019, Arrondissement de Saint-Laurent continues to educate residents about this issue and encourage them to go beyond awareness of this new reality to prepare for any eventuality, even in urban areas.