Montréal approves bin supply contract

Summary#

Montréal city council adopted a decision titled Conclure une entente-cadre avec la firme Plasti-Bac inc. (Enter a framework agreement with Plasti-Bac inc.). It authorizes a 24-month agreement for Plasti-Bac to supply household garbage bins in 2026 and 2027. City staff say the bins are intended to support plans to space out garbage collection in Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension.

  • Plasti-Bac must supply bins to the City when ordered, up to $2,341,207.99, taxes included.
  • Council also authorized $117,060.40, taxes included, for contingencies, and required an evaluation of Plasti-Bac’s performance.
  • The City will charge the spending to corporate services budgets as needs arise.
  • The call for tenders had two compliant bids for this supply lot. Plasti-Bac was the lowest compliant bidder.

What it means for you#

  • Residents of the two boroughs: City staff describe the bins as part of projects to space out garbage collection. Staff say boroughs will communicate about the changes, including schedule changes from November 1, 2026. The decision does not set out which residents will receive bins or how many.
  • Residents elsewhere: The decision does not directly change garbage collection rules for other boroughs.

Money#

The decision authorizes up to $2,458,268.39, taxes included, for the Plasti-Bac agreement and contingencies; actual orders are to be made as needs arise.

  • Plasti-Bac’s agreement is capped at $2,341,207.99, with a separate $117,060.40 contingency budget.
  • The bid for the supply lot was 6.76% above the City’s latest estimate, but 18.78% below the other compliant bid.

What is unclear#

  • The staff summary describes a second lot for bin distribution and names USD Global inc. as its lowest compliant bidder. But the adopted resolution provided here does not award that contract. The scope and cost authorized for that work are therefore unclear from the resolution.
  • The decision does not state the number of bins to be ordered or how they will be allocated to residents.

Case for#

  • City staff say providing bins is meant to help residents adapt to less frequent garbage collection and encourage use of other collection services.
  • Plasti-Bac submitted the lowest compliant bid for the supply lot.

Case against#

  • The supply bid was higher than the City’s estimate, and only two compliant bids were received for that lot.
  • The resolution does not explain how many bins the City will order or clarify the award for the separate distribution work.