Cèdres Recyclés
Established
in the National Capital region since 1994, Cèdres Recyclés is the
only specialist in planning and managing the recovery of cedar branches. The partnership
and involvement of the City of Gatineau has allowed significant progress in convincing,
raising awareness and informing the public on the simple and natural habit of
cedar recycling. We encourage the City of Gatineau to monitor the implementation
of a policy on cedar recovery. The efforts of our staff as well as the public's
participation not only promote job creation in the Outaouais, but they also help
to preserve the environment and lower burying related costs.
Pick up
With
its fleet of trucks, Cèdres Recyclés provides a free branch pick
up service in the National Capital region. When the owner of a lot trims his/her
cedar hedge, the cuttings are stacked on the side of the road. The only thing
he/she has to do is call to give his/her address to our operator. A member of
our team then goes to the location where the cuttings have been left; each pick
up is completed within 24 hours and no residue is left on site. The pick up season
begins on April 15 and ends on November 15.
Recycling
Our actions are essentially oriented towards a better community organization. For about ten years, our commitment to the field of recycling has been an expression of this vision.
Cèdres Recyclés has paved the way to the implementation of a policy governing cedar branch pick up in our region, putting an unprecedented emphasis on consultation and partnership, for example the involvement of landscape architects or other similar bodies sensible to recycling and environmental issues.
On
average, Cèdres Recyclés receives 15077 calls yearly for pick up
of cedar branches. From those, approximately 2500 come from landscape architects.
The team work and remarkable individual and collective efforts of the population
on both sides of the river have prevented burying in our waste disposal sites
more than 3702 tons of cedar branches over three years. Once the oil is extracted
from cedar leaves, we transform the residue into mulch. The company then redistributes
mulch to the community, giving it to those who ask for some and come pick it up.
Cedar
Latin
name: Thuja occidentalis
Origin: Asia and America
Size: up to 40 m high
Leaves: evergreen
Features
- softwood belonging to the coniferous family
- light grey bark, finely cracked
- egg-shaped cone
- seeds take 2 years to ripen before the cones open
The Canadian forest, a green band which is over 6000 kilometers long and up to 3000 kilometers wide in some areas, is mainly constituted of coniferous trees - in fact, 76% of its trees are pine trees, spruces, larches, cedars or thujas, hemlock spruces and firs. Economically speaking, these trees are the most important.
Essentially
composed of coniferous trees, the Canadian boreal forest is by far the largest.
It provides a habitat for 16% of the world's resources of coniferous trees. Canada,
like Quebec, is a gigantic source of essential oils derived from coniferous trees.
Processing
The processing consists in extracting essential oil from cedar leaves through steam distillation. After the daily pick up, trucks are unloaded and branches are chopped and blown in a still. The oil is derived from the foliage through steam extraction and separated in a sedimentation tank after having cooled in an indirect contact heat exchanger. Finally, the oil is filtered, stored in barrels and distributed to wholesalers for use in pharmaceutical products and cosmetics.
The popularity of essential oils derived from coniferous trees is increasing in growing industries, for example pharmaceutical companies. In Quebec, essential oils extracted from coniferous trees have sparked interest since the 1950's. The demand for this product is inflating, and consumers are always looking for new fragrances.
In
Quebec, most cedar oil producers are family businesses operating a few months
a year. Usually, this production is nothing more than an extra income. Quebec
producers mainly manufacture raw oil and sell over 80% of their production on
the American market.
Oil
The
oil derived from cedar leaves is part of the essential oils family. It is a natural
complex of volatile and odorous molecules. Cedar oil, nature's pearl, is composed
of active essences synthetised by the secretory cells of aromatic plants through
solar energy. Cedar oil is used in pharmaceutical products because of its therapeutic
properties, as well as perfume, toiletries, cosmetics, soaps and detergents, because
of its aromatic properties. Essential oils must be used with caution, and it is
recommended to consult an aromatherapist and a physician beforehand.
Mulch
Once the oil is derived from the cedar leaves, residues are transformed into mulch. Cèdres Recyclés then redistributes mulch to the community for free. Cedar mulch has a variety of advantages, both on the ecological and phytosanitary point of view. It can be spread on flower beds, around a patio or a swimming pool or anywhere ornamental plants grow.
Not only is it decorative, but its also preserves the humidity of the soil, at the same time protecting plants from drought. It diminishes thermal gaps and shields plants from the extreme temperatures that are diffused in the ground. Consequently, plants stay cool in the summer and are prevented from freezing in the winter.
Mulch also provides the soil with a source of mineral elements and organic matter, which contributes to preserving its structure and its biological and chemical equilibrium. Moreover, this protection prevents the soil from compacting and eroding.
Finally,
mulch allows plants to grow healthily because the repellent effect of its natural
aromas controls pest and prevents weeds from growing.
Contact us
Cèdres
Recyclés
60 Adrien-Robert
Hull, Quebec
Canada
J8Y 3S2
Tel.:
819.771.3446
Toll Free: 1.888.771.3446
Fax: 819.771.0067
E-mail:
ceuillette@cedarleaf.org