For many Ontarians, recycling non-alcoholic beverage containers has only been at curbside collection. While the Province, municipal governments and the beverage sector has long supported a “blue box” system to collect more paper and packaging, Ontario’s beverage container recovery rate remains stalled at 50% recovery rate – far off from the target of 80% by 2030.
Now is the time to take bold steps to strengthen our recovery rates, create jobs, and incentivize consumers to return their beverage containers.
The Canadian Beverage Association’s 2024 budget submission outlines the beverage sector’s vision for an expanded deposit-return system (DRS) and how this government can work with producers to build a cost-effective system to meet our recovery targets and reincorporate recycled plastic, glass and aluminum into new beverage containers as recycled content.
Recommendations:
To build the best system for Ontario, the CBA recommends that the Government of Ontario continue the timely consultation process through the Deposit-Return Stakeholder Working Group to implement a DRS for plastic, aluminum, and glass beverage containers.
The CBA is currently collecting data to develop a DRS modelling study that is being guided by five (5) core design principles. These include:
High performance
- Establish a deposit-return system (DRS) program that can achieve the highest beverage container collection and recycling rate.
Cost-efficient
- Design the DRS program to be cost-effective and efficient for consumers and stakeholders.
Convenient collection
- Provide Ontarians with convenient and accessible collection locations to support high levels of consumer participation.
Effective implementation
- Develop an implementation plan to establish the necessary collection network to meet the 2030 target of 80%.
Evidence-Based Decision-Making:
- Base decisions about developing a DRS on evidence, data, and beverage industry expertise.
Download the Ontario Budget Submission 2024 – Canadian Beverage Association