Returnable bottles and cans: ways to get your money back

Returnable bottles and cans: ways to get your money back

Since the deposit system has been expanded in Quebec, returning bottles and cans can be more complicated for some consumers. But there are several solutions to avoid losing the value of the deposit.

Opportunities include donating your containers to a community organization, school or sports team that is organizing a fundraiser. Some groups even offer to pick them up directly from their homes.

Other options are to use the salvage machines still available at some retailers, or to call in a company specializing in home collection. However, it is important to verify the fees charged and how much of the deposit you will receive.

In some neighbourhoods, citizens also place their containers on their balcony to allow people who are picking them up to take them. Racks on some public garbage bins also offer a solution to prevent cans and bottles from ending up in waste.

It is also possible to put the containers in the recovery bin, but this option results in the loss of the refund to which you are entitled. For example, twelve cans at ten cents each, every week, represent more than $62 in a year.

Finally, the Consignaction centres remain an option for retrieving the deposit, in particular through the return to unit or express return service.

The important thing is to choose a method that is practical for you, while still focusing on a solution that allows returnable containers to be properly recycled.