Some 144 complaints have been filed since the reform of the Quebec deposit system on beverage containers came into force on 1er November, a number lower than what the Legault government expected.
“It was much, much better than we could have anticipated,” declared the Minister of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, Benoit Charette, in the wake of the numerous fines. to the new regulations revealed by The Press.
“We had fears that this reform would cause major problems in the first days, the first weeks,” acknowledged Minister Charette, estimating that the 144 reports made by the public, of which only twenty specifically concerned places of return, represent “a very, very, very low complaint rate”.
A follow-up is carried out for each complaint by the Association québécoise de Récuperation des Containers de Beverages (AQRCB), the organization created by the bottlers to manage the deposit system, and “the situation is corrected in a very large majority of cases” , indicated the minister, reiterating his confidence in the organization.
It is normal, in fact, for there to be a break-in period.
Benoit Charette, Minister of the Environment
The minimum number of 1,200 return locations that the AQRCB is required to offer throughout Quebec is “very, very certainly” respected, even if The Press noted on the official list the presence of numerous establishments which, in fact, do not take returnable containers, such as Jean Coutu pharmacies.
“Yes, there are corrections that need to be made,” admitted the minister. There is pruning that is being done [par l’AQRCB]. »
Repeat for 2025
The problems currently observed will facilitate the implementation of the second phase of the deposit reform, on 1er March 2025, when glass bottles of wine and spirits as well as multi-layer containers of milk and juice will also be returnable, estimates Benoit Charette.
The minister rejects the idea that certain industry players are still trying to derail his reform.
“Today, I consider them as partners,” he says, emphasizing that the reform gives them obligations, so that they have an interest in making the system work.
I feel a collaboration and above all a desire from each of these actors to correct the shortcomings, which are completely normal given the scale of the transformation.
Benoit Charette
Costco admits its mistake
Food retailer Costco admitted Wednesday that its Longueuil store was wrong to refuse returnable containers reported by an incognito representative of The Press who did not have a membership card.
“We take all returnable containers, purchased from us or not, brought back by members or not,” assured the chain’s spokesperson, Martin Groleau.
Training had been given to Costco employees when the deposit reform came into force, but “the report made it possible to see that we need to redo another message,” he explained.
“We sent the information to all our warehouses in Quebec,” assured Mr. Groleau.
Consumers who encounter a problem when returning their returnable containers are invited to inform the AQRCB at the telephone number 1-877-CANETTE or by email at [email protected].
The ABCs of the new instructions
Since 1er November 2023, the deposit amount was standardized at 10 cents for all returnable containers and the deposit was extended to all aluminum containers from 100 milliliters (ml) to 2 liters (L), such as juice cans or sparkling water. The extension of the deposit to other beverage containers from 100 ml to 2 L which are not yet returnable, such as glass bottles of wine and spirits or multi-layer cardboard containers for milk and juices, will take place on 1er March 2025 – the deposit amount on glass containers over 500 ml will be 25 cents. Businesses with an area of more than 375 m2 where these products are sold are required to take back all returnable containers – not just those they sell. Those whose surface area is less than 375 m2 can do so on a voluntary basis, but if they do so, they must also take back all returnable containers. The return must be offered free of charge to everyone.