New bottle return program began Monday

News Release
Min. of Environment

TORONTO, Feb. 5 /CNW/ - ‘Bag it back’ - a new deposit return program for recycling wine, beer and spirit containers - starts today. The program encourages Ontarians to return empty containers to The Beer Store for a refund, which means less waste going to landfill. By enhancing the Blue Box program’s effectiveness, deposit return will help increase Ontario’s waste diversion rate.
“We are all responsible for taking actions that help improve and protect our environment; that’s why our government is pleased to be moving forward, in partnership with the LCBO and The Beer Store, on this important new environmental initiative.” said Environment Minister Laurel Broten. “We know Ontarians want to contribute to a clean, healthy environment and this is a great way for them to do that.”
Starting today, Ontario consumers will pay a deposit when they purchase beverage alcohol - including wine, spirits and beer. They can then return empty containers to The Beer Store for a full refund. The Beer Store already operates one of the most successful container return programs in the world.
This program will help divert about 25,000 to 30,000 additional tonnes of glass from landfills - which is equivalent to about 80 million bottles. The new container return program will also free up space in Blue Boxes, giving municipal governments the opportunity to expand recycling programs.
“I am really proud that Ontario is the first jurisdiction in North America to have both a widespread comprehensive Blue Box program and a deposit return program,” said Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal David Caplan.
“Ontario’s new deposit return system has so many benefits,” said Recycling Council of Ontario Executive Director Jo-Anne St. Godard. “It will increase the collection of alcoholic beverage containers, collect them in a form that will make them more available for recycling and refilling, and provide additional space in our blue boxes to maximize the recovery of other recyclables.”
“We know protecting the environment is an important priority for our customers,” said LCBO President and COO Bob Peter. “By participating in the new ‘Bag it back’ deposit return program the public can benefit their communities by significantly increasing beverage alcohol container recycling in Ontario.”