Local news is not disposable: Why Quebec must cancel excessive recycling rates for printed newspapers and magazines
An alliance of Quebec newspapers and magazines is sounding the alarm about the unfair and deeply damaging effects of Quebec’s selective collection reform. While we support recycling and environmental responsibility, the proposed fee changes would dramatically increase the cost of producing newspapers and magazines in Quebec, threatening to scrap local journalism.
Together, our publications reach millions of readers for whom print remains the medium of choice. We are joining forces on their behalf so they can continue reading newspapers and magazines in their preferred format. This is a matter of access, respect and generational fairness.
When recycling fees rise, journalism pays
We are calling on the Quebec government to exempt printed newspapers and magazines from the excessive rates imposed by the new collection system, and we urge Premier François Legault to resolve this issue before the end of his mandate.
The introduction of the new regime in January 2025 triggered a sharp increase in recycling costs, despite a continued decline in the volume of paper produced and distributed. The situation will only worsen, with additional increases expected in the coming years.
The result is a clear imbalance. The less paper we market, the higher our recycling bill climbs. This paradox clearly shows that the new system has replicated the very flaws the reform was meant to correct.
These rising costs come at a time when print media are already facing significant structural pressures, including the relentless erosion of advertising revenues and circulation, and the suffocating dominance of the web giants.
Dissociate the content from the container
To be clear, we understand the need for a recyclable materials collection system for “containers,” such as home delivery boxes used by foreign online vendors. However, a fundamental distinction must be made in the case of newspapers and magazines, where the content cannot be separated from the container. Taxing the paper on which they are printed is not the same as taxing packaging. It means taxing content that is of fundamental value to our society, produced by local professionals specifically for Quebec readers. This distinction was recognized when the Quebec government chose to exempt books from these rates.
That decision to support the diversity of cultural expression should logically be extended to print media outlets, which are a safeguard against cultural globalization and a shield against misinformation. In a geopolitical landscape scarred by fake news and eroding institutions, particularly through social media and international digital giants, preserving the local print media must be a priority.
Our media outlets also form a broad ecosystem that provides many direct and indirect jobs. Every dollar spent on local media stays in Quebec’s economy. And contrary to some perceptions, demand for print remains robust: millions of Quebecers continue to buy our print formats, which remain indispensable for bridging the digital divide, especially in rural areas, among seniors and in less connected households.
The Quebec government has introduced significant measures to support print media over the years. But this misguided reform flies in the face of public policies designed to revitalize the media sector.
Swift action is needed to exempt print media from recycling rates before further damage is done. Must we wait for media outlets to shut down before action is taken?
A government that defends Quebec’s interests must champion an industry of such vital importance. Progress should not come at the expense of journalism.
The Gazette, Le Journal de Montréal, Le Journal de Québec, Le Devoir, the Globe and Mail, L’actualité and Ricardo; the print publications of TVA Publications, Pratico-Pratiques, KO Média, Bayard Presse Canada and Naître et grandir; and the Association québécoise des éditeurs de magazines (AQEM), RecycleMédias and Hebdos Québec