After renovation: the complete debris sorting guide in Quebec City

You’ve just finished renovating your kitchen, bathroom, or basement. You’re exhausted, the space is beautiful… and you’re now standing in front of 3 m³ of debris: drywall chunks, old kitchen cabinets, demolished vanity, pieces of old flooring. What to do with all this in Quebec City?

The categorization by material

Renovation debris doesn’t all get disposed of the same way. Here are the 6 main categories.

1. Clean drywall (gypsum)

Examples: drywall demolished without paint (rare — most has paint), or gypsum offcuts from installation.

Where:

• Ecocentres Beauport or Ste-Foy: accepted in “construction waste” zone, fees apply for volume > 1 m³
• Contractor bins (dumpsters): accepted

Never:

• ❌ Regular trash (weight excess, volume)
• ❌ Mixed with metals/electrical (charge surcharges at ecocentre)

2. Painted drywall + old insulation

Examples: demolished walls with paint, pink or yellow fibreglass insulation from a finished basement.

Where:

• Ecocentre accepted but charged if > 1 m³
• Fibreglass must be bagged (not loose, irritates skin/lungs)
• Our post-renovation debris removal service manages it

Never:

• ❌ Release insulation in the wind (health risk)
• ❌ Burn in a backyard fire (toxic fumes)

3. Demolition wood

Examples: framing 2x4/2x6, old flooring, cabinet doors, plywood.

Where:

• Ecocentres (wood section, all 4 ecocentres accept)
• Renaissance ReStore (Écohabitation, 700 Boul. Hamel) — take-back for resale if in good condition
• Our pickup: at $0.10-0.25/bf depending on volume

Tip: wood with nails/screws is still accepted at ecocentre, no need to remove them.

Never:

• ❌ Treated wood (brown-green, pressure-treated) — specific route required, Vanier RDD
• ❌ Moldy wood — bag separately

4. Ceramic / porcelain / tile

Examples: old bathroom tiles, porcelain toilet, ceramic flooring.

Where:

• Ecocentre (mineral waste section): Ste-Foy best for volume
• Our pickup: included in main quote, no surcharge

Never:

• ❌ Put in regular recycling (not recyclable this way)
• ❌ Broken plates in recycling bin (contaminates entire bin)

5. Metal (copper, steel, aluminum)

Examples: old pipes, electrical wiring, metal stair railings, aluminum window frames.

Where:

• Scrap metal yards (Zampini, Métaux Rousseau Quebec City, Recyclage RCM) — often pay you for copper, brass
• Ecocentre (metals section): free
• Our pickup: included

Price indication (metal scrap 2026):

• Copper: $6-8/lb (wire stripped clean)
• Aluminum: $0.60-0.80/lb
• Stainless steel: $0.30-0.40/lb
• Regular steel: $0.08-0.12/lb

Tip: if you have significant copper wiring (> 20 lb), worth dropping at a scrap yard — easy $150-200.

6. Appliances + plumbing + electrical

Examples: old dishwasher, water heater, old faucet, electrical panel, bathroom vanity + cabinets.

Where:

• Ecocentre (appliances section)
• Our service (included): we load, we bring
• Appliance retailers (take-back often at purchase of new)

Critical: refrigerators/freezers that still have refrigerant must go through a refrigerant-certified channel (ecocentre has it). Don’t just throw them — environmental fine up to $5,000 + release of ozone-depleting gases.

Hazardous renovation debris (CAUTION)

Asbestos (insulation in grey wall cavities, old popcorn ceilings pre-1985)

• DO NOT handle yourself without PPE
• Call a certified asbestos firm in Quebec City
• Cost: $500-15,000 depending on surface

See full hazardous materials article for details.

Lead paint (pre-1978 construction)

• Dust from demolition is the risk
• Wet debris before disposal
• Bag in thick bags, dual-layered
• Ecocentre: accept if properly bagged

Fluorescent tubes / bulbs

• Contain mercury
• Ecocentre Vanier (RDD centre)
• Some hardware stores take back (Rona, Home Depot)

Ceramic tile with old mastic/glue

• If glue is pre-1980, may contain asbestos in adhesive
• Test before demolishing

The scenario matters (renovation size)

Scenario A: Small renovation (bathroom, 1 day of demolition)

Typical debris: 1-2 m³ (old vanity, toilet, tiles, fixtures). Best option: 1 or 2 trips to ecocentre yourself with pickup, or our 1/4 truck ($299).

Scenario B: Medium renovation (kitchen, 3-5 days demolition)

Typical debris: 4-8 m³ (old cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring). Best option: container rental 10 cubic yards (400-500 $ for 1 week) OR our 1/2 truck ($499) if quick cleanup.

Scenario C: Large renovation (whole floor, basement, multi-week)

Typical debris: 10+ m³ Best option: container 20-40 cubic yards or multiple of our truck visits (pricing on case basis)

Scenario D: Full gut (removing walls, ceilings, multiple rooms)

Typical debris: 20-40+ m³ Best option: large container (30-40 cubic yards) for the whole job duration, or contractor-managed waste disposal.

For detailed pros and cons, see our container vs our service comparison.

Typical errors

Error 1: Not sorting before loading

If you throw mixed into our truck (wood + drywall + fibreglass + old carpet), we can’t segregate materials at end-destination, and some materials aren’t accepted where others are. This results in a surcharge applied to your bill ($50-150 depending on volume).

Fix: sort by category in distinct piles BEFORE we arrive. Pile = category.

Error 2: Ignoring what the contractor left

Contractor finishes, says “I’ll send a hauler Monday for the debris”. Monday passes, Tuesday, Wednesday. You realize nobody’s coming. Pile’s outside. Neighbours complain.

Fix: written agreement BEFORE contractor starts: “contractor manages debris” OR “we hire an independent service — debris removed BY X DATE”. No ambiguity.

Error 3: Over-estimating what fits in a truck

A “truck” of debris (your pickup, for example) is ~2-3 cubic yards. Even a 1/2-ton truck max holds ~4 cubic yards (legally, safely). A bathroom demolition often gives 3-4 m³. You think “1 trip to the dump” — you need 2-3 trips.

Fix: over-estimate. Book our 1/2 truck (12 cubic yards, one single trip) instead of risking 3 personal trips.

Error 4: Leaving material in basement pending payment

You negotiate for price with someone. Days pass. Material accumulates. Mold grows in the basement.

Fix: get quotes fast (< 48h), decide fast. Material decomposes the longer it sits.

Error 5: Forgetting the deposit to your contractor

Many contractors bill separately for “debris removal”. If you’ve already paid for removal, don’t duplicate. Check your contract.

Specific to the neighborhood

Downtown (Old Quebec, Saint-Roch, Saint-Jean-Baptiste)

Limited parking = small dumpster impractical. Our pickup truck often more flexible than a 15-ft dumpster in a tight space.

Limoilou / Charlesbourg (houses)

Space available. Dumpster rental makes sense for longer renos. Our service for final quick clean.

Beauport / Sainte-Foy / Sillery

Standard. Both options (dumpster or our truck) work well.

Downtown commercial

For office renos, we have evening/weekend pickup options to avoid business disruption.

Our pricing for renovation debris

Our rates are 5-10% higher than pure residential junk (because of weight and volume):

• 1/4 truck (up to 6 m³): $345 (standard) / $359 (reno premium)
• 1/2 truck (up to 12 m³): $579 / $599
• Full truck (up to 24 m³): $879 / $899

The “reno premium” reflects: heavier weight (drywall, concrete) than typical furniture, specific ecocentre fees for some materials, longer time sorting on site.

Tips to save

1. Sort at source

While demolishing, throw in separate piles: wood / drywall / metal / hazardous. Saves us 30-45 minutes sorting on site. Reflected in your quote.

2. Dispose of “free” things yourself

Some things cost extra at ecocentre:

• Small fluorescent tubes → Rona free (program)
• Leftover paint → Home Depot / Rona paint take-back (free)
• Motor oil → any auto garage

Drop these off yourself before we arrive.

3. Donate usable materials

Doors in good condition, intact tiles, unmodified windows, working fixtures → ReStore Habitat (Écohabitation, 700 Boul. Hamel). They pick up for larger items.

4. Coordinate with neighbours

Multiple renovations in neighborhood? Group pickup reduces per-unit cost.

In summary

Post-renovation debris is complex because each material has its channel. We handle it for you:

• We sort on site if needed
• We know the ecocentres and their limits
• We document everything (useful for your contractor insurance)
• Fixed price on firm quote, no surprise

For a quote: 418 506-0077 with photos of your debris pile.