Quebec’s Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs has released the results of its most recent environmental sampling at the Stablex hazardous waste treatment site, concluding that current activities comply with provincial regulations and do not pose a risk to public health.
The findings were made public on February 24, 2026, following repeated requests from Liza Poulin, mayor of Blainville, where the Stablex facility is located.
Joint Sampling in September 2025
According to the ministry, sampling took place over three days, September 9, 10 and 11, 2025. Both ministry officials and representatives of Stablex conducted simultaneous water sampling at 20 different locations across the site.
Samples were collected from groundwater and surface water in a variety of materials and settings, including sand, clay, bedrock and drainage ditches. The ministry subsequently compared its laboratory results with those obtained by the company.
The ministry reported that, with the exception of a chloride-related anomaly already under monitoring, the results were consistent with existing environmental standards. Other variations observed in the data were described as isolated and not concerning. According to the ministry, no similar readings for those elements have been recorded in the past decade.
Regulatory Oversight
Stablex operates a facility specializing in the treatment and stabilization of hazardous industrial residues. Such sites are subject to ongoing environmental monitoring under Quebec law, including groundwater and surface water quality controls designed to detect potential contamination.
The MELCCFP stated that the results of the September 2025 sampling confirm compliance with environmental regulations currently in force. The ministry added that the data indicate the company’s activities do not represent a health risk to nearby populations.
While the announcement affirms regulatory compliance, it also reflects continued public attention surrounding the facility. Municipal officials in Blainville have previously called for transparency and close oversight, particularly in light of broader discussions about waste management capacity and environmental safeguards in the region.
Chloride Monitoring
The ministry acknowledged one anomaly related to chloride levels. Chlorides can originate from various sources, including industrial processes and road salt. Officials noted that the evolution of this parameter is already being tracked, suggesting it does not constitute a newly identified issue.
No additional exceedances or long-term contamination trends were reported.
Ongoing Monitoring
Environmental monitoring at hazardous waste facilities is typically conducted on a recurring basis to ensure that containment systems function as intended and that surrounding soil and water resources remain protected.
The ministry did not indicate any enforcement action or corrective measures resulting from the September sampling campaign. Instead, it emphasized that the observed results align with regulatory thresholds and that no risk to human health has been identified.
Municipal authorities have not announced additional local measures in response to the findings, but the publication of the data follows requests for transparency from the city’s administration.
Further monitoring is expected to continue as part of the ministry’s standard oversight of the site.
