Beverage Container Regulation: Is Your Area Ready?

By Ann Johnson, CWMA Member and Member of the Beverage Container Management Board

October 1^st remains the date when all beverages other than milk and milk substitutes will be subject to a deposit, refundable when the container is returned to retailers who sell the product. Customers will be able to return 24 containers per person per day.

The Government's withdrawal of Bill 40 does not effect the Beverage Container Regulation. It only means that a permanent Beverage Container Management Board cannot be appointed. So we, the Interim Board, will continue our debates and "give advice to the Minister."

Non-alcoholic beverage containers can also be returned in large quantities to any Encorp Bottle Depot. There are to be four of these depots in the Victoria area as well as one or more in Sooke, Sidney, Duncan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Comox, Courtney, Campbell River and Port McNeill. In addition, Saltspring, Pender and Denman Islands Recycling Depots have applied to become Encorp Bottle Depots but have not, as of August 12^th, received a contract.

Until your Regional District can assure the Ministry that depots are providing "customer convenience" in all parts of your District, retailers will have to continue accepting empties for refund.

You may want to inquire about the following in your area:

• Are your local retailers ready for the extra demands on space and employee time?
• Have they been offered a 'handling fee' from Encorp to compensate for these extra costs?
• Have they an effective arrangement with Encorp for the trucking of the UBC's (used beverage containers) which they collect? [Encorp is responsible for trucking costs]
• Is there an Encorp Bottle Depot in the area which will provide "customer convenience"? [A depot eventually will allow retailers to opt out of providing refunds.]
• Is your Rural Liquor Agency ready for these changes?
• Have the Brewers and/or the Liquor Distribution Branch assured them of adequate 'handling fees' and transport for the UBC's which they will have to handle?
• Have the Brewers and/or the Liquor Distribution Branch contracted with the local Encorp Bottle Depot to pay a handling fee, which will allow the depot to pay a full refund for beer and liquor containers?

If these questions cannot be answered affirmatively expect local confusion and frustration on Octover 1st.

Remember the intent of the regulation is to transfer the cost of handling and recycling of containers from the taxpayers to the brand owners (and consumers) of these beverages.

For further information, contact:

• Encorp Pacific, Inc:
  Phone 1-800-330-9767
  Fax 604-473-2411
  email sandy@encorpinc.com
• Liquor Distribution Branch (Gordon Hall)
  Phone 604-252-3035
  Fax 604-252-3044
  email Gord_Hall@LDB.gov.bc.ca
• Ministry of Environment
  Phone 1-800-663-7867 (387-9974)
  Your Regional District
• Or me, Ann Johnson
  Phone/Fax 250-539-2888
  email ajohnston@gulfislands.com

Source: CWMA News (fall 1998) vol. 3 iss. 3.

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