New Deposit Regulation Explained

By Ann Johnston, CWMA Member and Beverage Container Management Board

Environment Minister Cathy McGregor announced early in December that expansion of B.C.'s deposit/refund system had passed Cabinet.

The Regulation will take effect in several stages. A Management Board will advise the Minister on stewardship plans that all beverage brandowners (except milk) must submit by February 15, 1998. This must include plans for a depot system throughout B.C., which will take into account customer convenience and "service to transit-limited consumers and residents in isolated areas."

It now looks as if there will be two independent systems proposed: one by the Brewers Association covering brands of beer, cider, and coolers similar to that now in place and a second from a container agency, which will represent all other brandowners. These systems must not only cover all beverages (except milk) but also include all container types (glass, aluminum, tin, tetrapaks, etc). All must be recyclable in a "reasonable" manner if they are on sale in B.C. after April 1^st. Those containers collected for deposit will be banned from landfills and incineration this fall.

Approved plans must be in place by April 1^st. Between now and October 1, 1998, it will be business as usual. Pop and beer containers will continue to be returned for refund to existing retailers and bottle depots. However, during this period, the container agency and the Brewers will have to establish depot systems throughout the Province that meet the criteria established by the Regulation, and especially that of customer convenience, which is of particular concern to the Minister.

On October 1^st, all retailers must charge a deposit when beverages are purchased. All containers (except wine and spirits) may be returned for deposit to the retailer that sold them with a limit of 24 units per person per day. Any quantity, including wine and spirits, can be returned for full deposit to approved bottle depots.

Once the complete depot systems are up and running in any given Regional District, retailers within that District may if they wish reduce the number of containers which they accept for refund to 6 per person per day. Once the preliminary target of 75% of all containers (except wine) have been diverted to a bottle depot system within a regional district, the retailer may refuse to pay a refund for any returned containers.

The goal of the expanded system is to recover 85% of beverage containers (except milk) sold in the Province within two years. This will relieve overcrowded landfills, reduce litter and save municipalities and other taxpayers about $7 million annually.

Source: CWMA News (January 1998) vol. 3 iss. 1.

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