Université Laval
Centre de recherche sur les matériaux renouvelables

MRQ Network Closing Webinar for the Espace d’innovation !

5 March 2021

Investigation of market opportunities for agricultural silage plastics and study of underlying issues

March 5, 2021 – 4:00pm on zoom (see login info below)

Annually, more than 11,000 tons of agricultural plastics of various types are generated in Quebec. Of this number, only 20% is recycled. According to the Centre d’innovation sociale en agriculture (CISA), hay bale wrapping would be the primary source of agricultural plastics – the wrapping of each bale requires about 1 kg of plastic. Silage plastics would represent 69% of the agricultural plastics generated in Quebec, or 7,615 tonnes annually. Few way of valorization exist for these plastics. One of the challenges lies in the very poor quality of the plastics, which are highly contaminated, reducing the percentage that can be added without diminishing the desired properties.

For this third edition of the Innovation Space (Espace d’innovation) of the Matériaux Renouvelables Québec network (MRQ network), students will review the literature to see what is being done here and elsewhere in order to propose ways of valorization for silage plastics that will be intended for the construction and agricultural sectors and that take into account the technical challenges (e.g., the need for a new plastic for silage): technical (e.g. plastic cleaning), logistical (e.g. collection), economic (e.g. cost, viability, final cost compared to other products, landfill cost), social (e.g. simple sorting and collection for producers) and environmental (e.g. carbon footprint) challenges associated with silage plastics.

MENTORS :

  • Simon Barnabé (UQTR)
  • Anne Scallon and Nancy Chabot (MRC of Charlevoix)
  • Jean-Philippe Jacques (Innofibre)
  • Marie-Christine Alarie (CMQ)
  • Kevin Pochon (Québec International)
  • Monica Breton (SADC Charlevoix, ÃŽle d’Orléans and Côte-de-Beaupré)
  • Roxanne Beaumont (MRC of ÃŽle d’Orléans)
  • Ahmed Koubaa (UQAT)

STUDENTS and STUDENTS :

  • Asma Khouaja (UQAT)
  • Sarra Helaoui (UQAT)
  • Mathieu Pominville-Racette (UQTR)
  • Patricia Rioux (Université de Sherbrooke)
  • Ziang Li (UL)
  • Rihab Mustapha (UQAT)
  • Camille Venne (UQTR)

Login link: https://zoom.us/j/99944064080…
Password : 507604

More information on the MRQ network: https://www.reseaumrq.com/

Thanks to FRQNT for their financial support, which makes the Innovation Space program possible!

Photo by Dominique Guêné, taken in St-André de Kamouraska.

Share: