The City of Montreal has halted mediation with Sanimax to address foul odors emanating from the agri-food plant in Rivière-des-Prairies and has urged the Quebec government to step in.
In a statement released on Monday, the City announced that it is discontinuing its mediation efforts with Sanimax, initiated two years ago, due to a lack of significant progress.
Located in Rivière-des-Prairies, the Sanimax plant processes animal by-products and waste from slaughterhouses.
The discussions between the municipal administration and Sanimax began after a provincial government directive in July 2024 designating a special intervention zone for three years to facilitate the company’s compliance with environmental regulations.
In March 2024, the Quebec Superior Court had mandated Sanimax to bring its plant in line with environmental standards.
“Given the lack of tangible progress and the impending expiration of the directive, representatives of the City of Montreal have decided to suspend the City’s involvement in the mediation process,” the City stated.
Additionally, the City has urged the province to mandate the immediate construction of garages for trucks transporting raw materials such as animal and meat by-products, which have been identified as the source of the odors affecting the neighborhood.
The municipal government has reiterated its commitment to enforcing air and water quality regulations and will not hesitate to impose penalties or pursue legal measures against the company if necessary.
