Glass processing facility to be built in Sorel-Tracy, furthering development of a 100% Quebec-based bottle-to-bottle value chain

SOREL-TRACY, October 7, 2026 – The Quebec Beverage Container Recycling Association (QBCRA)/Consignaction announced today that a new processing plant for glass materials recovered through the deposit-refund system will be built in Sorel-Tracy. Plessisville-based Machinex has been chosen as the equipment supplier and technology integrator for the new facility.

The plant will be a pivotal component of the next phase of modernization of Quebec’s deposit-refund system, enabling the achievement of a major milestone: creating the conditions for glass recovered in Quebec to be processed here for remelting and reuse, primarily to manufacture new containers.

100% Quebec-based bottle-to-bottle recycling

On March 1, 2027, the final planned phase of the deposit-refund expansion will come into effect, incorporating glass wine and spirits bottles, among others. The addition of these containers will considerably increase the volume of glass recovered across Quebec: the QBCRA expects it will have to manage some 125,000 tonnes of glass starting in 2027, and eventually 175,000 tonnes annually.

Following a review of various scenarios, the addition of further processing capacity through construction of a new plant emerged as the only solution that will allow the QBCRA to secure the processing of future volumes, comply with its regulatory obligations and, most important, promote local recovery and reclamation of glass.

The goal is clear: to create, in Quebec, the conditions for the growth of a true closed-loop, bottle-to-bottle value chain, whereby reclaimed glass can become the raw material for new container manufacturing.

“This decision is fully in line with the principle of extended producer responsibility,” said Philippe Roy, Chair of the QBCRA Board of Directors. “Our responsibility, of course, is to meet our regulatory obligations, but our ambition extends beyond that. We want to contribute, concretely and sustainably, to a stronger circular economy, by taking the steps today that will build its lasting success.”

Specialized technology not yet available on this scale in Quebec

Recovering glass is the first step. Before it can be reused to make new containers, however, it must be processed to meet high quality and purity standards.

Among other things, the glass must be cleansed of contaminants and then sorted according to various characteristics, such as colour. This process requires specialized industrial equipment as well as optical sorting technology, including AI-powered tools, not currently available at the necessary scale in Quebec.

Machinex will supply the equipment for the future plant and will rely on suppliers including Binder+Co, a company with proven expertise in deploying this technology. It is currently in use in five facilities in North America.

The new plant will be built near Machinex’s existing facilities in Sorel, leveraging the expertise of this Quebec company recognized in the field of materials sorting and processing.

“Glass sorting and processing have been key areas of our expertise as an equipment manufacturer for several years now, both in Quebec and internationally,” noted Jonathan Ménard, Vice-President, Sales and Strategy, Machinex. “We are proud to export our expertise, but seeing it thrive here at home, given the current tariff context and its impact on us, is incredibly important. This contract will help sustain our operations, which include more than 600 employees in Quebec.”

Patrick Péloquin, the Mayor of Sorel-Tracy, added: “For a number of years, material reclamation has been a core component of our economic development strategy in Sorel-Tracy. With redeemable plastic and aluminum containers now being processed at plants in Sorel-Tracy, this new reclamation facility will further position the region as a hub of economic development.”

Project added to the existing ecosystem

Construction of the new plant does not signal an end to the collaborations with companies already involved in processing and reclaiming redeemable glass containers.

On the contrary, the QBCRA intends to continue relying on a network of packaging and recycling partners and to continue supplying existing stakeholders. This approach will not only preserve expertise developed in Quebec but also diversify processing capabilities and reduce the risks inherent in reliance on a single packaging provider.

As such, the new facility will add strategic capacity to the Quebec ecosystem, rather than replace it.

“The QBCRA takes a prudent and inclusive approach to the recovered-glass value chain,” explained Normand Bisson, President and Chief Executive Officer, QBCRA. “In continuing to collaborate with all players in the deposit-refund system, we are working to strengthen the ecosystem, consolidate the industry, and position Quebec at the forefront. This plant will not only ensure regulatory compliance; it will also turn that value chain into a true circular economy sector for Quebec.”

Tim Connors, Managing Director, Americas North, Owens-Illinois, added: “O-I is excited about the continued growth and value that this initiative represents for its overall supply chain. We are pleased to see investments like this that strengthen our industry and support its long-term growth.”

Investment fully funded by beverage producers

The plant construction project is an initiative of the beverage producers responsible for the modernized deposit-refund system.

It will be undertaken with no government financial contribution or grant. The exclusively private-sector funding will be covered by the producers, in part through a one-time adjustment to their contribution to funding of the deposit-refund system.

This investment is entirely consistent with the extended producer responsibility (EPR) principle, whereby the companies that market beverage containers also fund the infrastructures necessary for their recovery, processing and reclamation. As the owners of the raw material—in this case, glass—the producers are committed to ensuring that it is reclaimed and becomes an industrial resource in reliable, high-quality supply.

About AQRCB/Consignaction
Consignaction is the official emblem for promoting the activities of the QBCRA to the public and stakeholders. The QBCRA is the designated management body (DMB) for the development, implementation, financing and management of the modernized deposit-refund system, in line with the EPR principle. Its members are the various beverage producers involved in the recovery, reuse, recycling and reclamation of beverage containers in Quebec.

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Source:
Quebec Beverage Container Recycling Association/Consignaction

Information:
Elisabeth Larocque-de Freitas
(514) 652-6887
elisabeth.larocque@imperiumstrategies.ca