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In today’s world, climate change is a major concern. We experience it through record-breaking heat waves, floods, forest fires, violent storms and much more. These weather phenomena are intensifying, considerably impacting human life and our ecosystems. They also cause financial consequences that affect everyone.
As Quebec citizens, what can we do to slow climate change? Paul Hawken answers this question with his proposal for Project Drawdown.
Project Drawdown is an international movement to identify and promote actions to fight climate change. Its main objective is to reduce greenhouse gases–and even reverse their effects. The movement has since evolved into a non-profit organization, co-founded by environmentalist Paul Hawken.
In 2017, Paul Hawken published his book Drawdown – The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, now recognized as an environmental reference. His book presents practices and technologies capable of reversing atmospheric carbon accumulation by 2050.
Solutions are put forth for electricity, buildings, health, food, transport and much more. Each solution is ranked in order of importance in terms of its environmental impacts.
The scenarios suggested are extrapolated on a global scale, considering the economic value of each solution, along with its cost-benefit ratio, its implementation speed and its positive impacts on society.
Scenario 1 assumes a temperature rise of 2°C by 2100, while scenario 2 assumes an increase of 1.5°C.
Project Drawdown has ranked over 90 solutions by order of importance, determined by their impact in gigatons of CO2 equivalent reduced. Among the solutions with the greatest impact are reducing food waste, plant-rich diets and family planning and education.
In fourth place is the management of refrigerants. These fluids are found, among other things, in products you probably use every day, such as your refrigerator, freezer, air conditioner or even your wine fridge.
If improperly managed, these refrigerants are powerful greenhouse gases. In fact, the release of these gases into the environment (from leaking appliances or improper end-of-life disposal) significantly contributes to climate change. On average, an improperly recycled cooling appliance generates one ton of GHGs–that’s equivalent to composting for 4.5 years!
That’s why, as Quebecers, the simple act of recycling your cooling appliances responsibly with GoRecycle has a considerable impact on the environment. It’s an easy gesture that allows you to make a concrete contribution to reversing climate change.
GoRecycle has set up a number of solutions to help you recycle your cooling appliances responsibly. Here are your options:
More than 300 drop-off points (including ecocentres, recycling centres and sorting centres) are available across Quebec to ensure the responsible recycling of your cooling appliance.
This recycling service is free of charge. Simply consult GoRecycle’s drop-off point locator to find the one nearest you and bring in your old fridge.
Please ensure you are a citizen of the municipality served, that you have not reached your maximum number of annual visits and that you check the opening hours before you go.
Have you decided to buy a new fridge or freezer? More than 100 retailers offer the free removal and recycling service for your old appliance with the purchase of a new one.
We invite you to consult the list of GoRecycle partner retailers offering the collection-with-purchase service before shopping for your next appliance. This way, you can be sure it will be recycled responsibly.
Many municipalities now offer the home collection service for old refrigerators and freezers. Check out the GoRecycle directory of cities offering home collection services to see whether your city participates.
Please note that each municipality defines its own terms and conditions. Validate this information in the link provided in the directory under your municipality’s name. Proof of residence will be required in order to benefit from this service.
Bernard Bordeleau has been an environmental consultant at GoRecycle since 2022.
He holds a Master’s degree in Environment from the University of Sherbrooke, and is passionate about protecting the environment. He has published an academic essay on the subject of The Circular Economy of Household Appliances and Air Conditioning.
At GoRecycle, Bernard is responsible for environmental reporting, recycler compliance and improving GoRecycle’s environmental practices.
GoRecycle is the only organization recognized by RECYC-QUÉBEC that ensures the responsible recycling of cooling appliances in Quebec. We recycle refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers, wine coolers, dehumidifiers and water coolers through nearly 400 drop-off points in Quebec, and over 100 banner pickup partners with the purchase of a new fridge. GoRecycle is a non-profit organization (NPO).
