Ontarians Exploiting Quebec’s Bottle Deposit System, Officials Say
Montreal, Quebec – residents of Ontario are increasingly taking advantage of Quebec’s bottle deposit system, returning containers purchased outside the province and collecting refunds, according to reports and officials. The practice, while not illegal, is raising concerns about fairness and the financial burden on Quebec’s deposit-refund system.
Quebec’s deposit system, managed by Consignaction, levies a deposit on beverage containers which is refunded to consumers upon return. While designed to encourage recycling within the province, it’s proving vulnerable to cross-border exploitation. The issue has gained attention as retailers and Consignaction centers report a noticeable influx of containers with Ontario origins.
“We don’t have leverage. We have no power. We are not the legislator.If we see a truck arriving with an Ontario plate, there’s nothing we can do,” stated Jean-François lefort, vice-President of Corporate Affairs at AQRCB/Consignaction. He acknowledged that the association is unable to prevent the returns, and has no way of verifying where a container was originally purchased.
Despite the inability to enforce restrictions, Consignaction intends to launch a public awareness campaign urging consumers to only return containers purchased in Quebec.
The Quebec Ministry of the Environment confirms the practice is not permitted under the intent of the deposit system, which is designed solely for containers sold and returned within the province. Officials warn that the influx of out-of-province containers increases processing costs and deposit reimbursements without a corresponding influx of deposit payments, ultimately raising the overall cost of the system.
Consignaction estimates the volume of containers originating from Ontario remains minimal, but the practice remains a concern for the long-term sustainability of the deposit-refund program.
