Quebec company ordered to pay $125,000 environmental fine linked to waste export

Shipping containers in the Port of Montreal are photographed in Montreal on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press)

MONTREAL — A Quebec company has been ordered to pay a $125,000 fine after it was caught trying to export household waste without a permit.

Environment and Climate Change Canada says Canacha Inc. pleaded guilty in Quebec court to failing to comply with an environmental protection compliance order.

The agency says environment and border services officers intercepted containers that were to be shipped to India from the Montreal and Halifax ports in spring 2022.

The containers’ declaration forms said they contained bales of paper, but the federal agency says they were full of household waste including plastic and metal.

Environment Canada says it issued the company a compliance order with requirements that included submitting an environment management plan.

The agency says the company failed to comply by the required date, and was issued the fine on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2025.