Frequently Asked Questions

About the deposit-refund

Why is the deposit-refund system being updated?

The system has been in place since 1984 and no longer meets current needs. It’s being updated to recycle more beverage containers, improve the quality of recycled materials and make it simpler to return containers.

Here are the major changes:

Making more containers returnable
Standardizing the deposit at 10 cents for most containers
Gradually adding plastic containers, then glass and then multi-layer cardboard
Creating a modernized network of return sites, including Consignaction sites, Consignaction+ sites and Zone Consignaction kiosks at participating retailers

The goal is to recycle 90% of returnable containers by 2032 and to better recover materials to lessen their impact on the environment.

Key dates in the modernization of the deposit-refund system

See: Fact Sheet 1 – Key Stages in the Modernization of Deposit-Refund System in Quebec.

What happens to the recycled materials?

After containers are dropped off at a return site, they begin their journey toward recycling. Depending on the material (aluminum, plastic or glass), the containers will become other beverage containers or find another use. To learn more about containers’ recycling journey from store shelf to recycling plant, click “The container’s journey.”

Producers

What is a beverage producer?

Any person who owns or, as the case may be, uses a name or trademark, domiciled or who has an establishment in Quebec. In the case where a producer does not have a business or establishment in Quebec, this refers to the person domiciled in Quebec, or who has an establishment in Quebec, who acts as first supplier of the product in this province. Producers include: producer-retailers, first importers, first distributors who are not brand owners, those who are brand owners, etc.

To learn more, read Articles 5 and 6 of the Regulation on the Development, Implementation and Financial Support of a deposit-refund System for Certain Containers .

What about the producer who is also a retailer or an on-site consumption establishment?

It is possible that the company, through its activities, may be affected in more than one way by the new deposit-refund system, for example if the production site also has a shop or on-site consumption area. If this is the case, the producer may also have to fulfill the obligations of a retailer on-site consumption establishment.

For more information on these obligations, please refer to the Retailers and ECSP sections on the website www.consignaction.ca.

What are the producer's obligations in the system of deposit-refund modernized?

Producers are required to actively participate in the modernization of the deposit-refund system, as required by regulations, i.e., they must ensure the transportation, sorting, packaging, and recovery of returnable beverage containers. They are also required to become a member ofQBCRA, the management organization designated to develop, implement, finance, and manage the deposit-refund system. To become a member, visit the Members portal on the website www.consignaction.ca and fill out the form provided for this purpose.

For more information, read section 67 et seq. of the Regulation on the Development, Implementation, and Financial Support of a deposit-refund System deposit-refund Certain Containers.

Are there any penalties if the producer does not meet its regulatory obligations?

Administrative financial and even criminal sanctions are provided for in the regulation for producers who do not fulfil their obligations, in particular the obligation to declare the products marketed or to provide other requested information.

To learn more, read Articles 178 and 186 of the Regulation on the Development, Implementation and Financial Support of a deposit-refund System for Certain Containers .

How do I become aQBCRA member? What information do I need to provide?

As of February 28, 2023, all beverage producers must be members ofQBCRA. To become a member ofQBCRA, simply visit the QBCRA website. Members portal and complete the registration form by clicking on “First visit? Register”. The following information must be provided:

the producer's full contact details;
the types of products targeted for marketing, the brands and the status of the producer with regard to these products: brand owner, first supplier , etc.

To learn more, read article 137 and following of the Regulation Development, implementation and financial support of a system of deposit-refund of certain containers.

What is the Member Portal?

THE Members portal QBCRA is the main platform for producers to manage their deposit-refund operations. The portal enables :

complete and submit monthly declarations in the Declaration Management > Declarations section.
communicate company contact details and contacts in addition to managing account users in the Account section.
file and update the list of registered products that are marketed by the producer in the Product Management > Products section.
have quick access to various information and regulatory documents related to the system deposit-refund modernized. These resources are available in the Members > Information section.

How often should the list of marketed products be updated?

The list of covered products marketed by the producer must be updated at least 30 days BEFORE a new product is marketed.QBCRA will periodically ask producers to check that the list in their file is up to date.

This is a prerequisite for updating the database used by the automated recuperators. In this way, new products will be recognized by the automated recuperators as soon as they are put on the market.

About returnable beverage containers

What containers are returnable for a refund?

In Quebec, the following beverage containers can be returned for a refund:

Ready-to-drink aluminum beverage cans of 100 ml to 2 L

Ready-to drink plastic beverage containers of 100 ml to 2 L

Glass soft drink and beer bottles

See which containers are returnable and which ones aren’t on the page Targeted and non-targeted containers. Also see the List of returnable beverage containers.

Which beverage containers are NOT redeemable in Quebec?

In Quebec, non-redeemable beverage containers include:

Glass bottles of wine and spirits (redeemable in 2027)
Cartons of juice, milk and other beverages (redeemable in 2027)
Drinkable yogurt and meal supplements
Family-size canned juices and cans
All beverage containers of LESS THAN 100 mL and MORE THAN 2 L, regardless of material

To find out which beverage containers are redeemable and which are not, see the page Targeted and non-targeted containers on the website or the List of returnable beverage containers and deposit-refund.

Are steel beverage containers returnable since March 1, 2025?

Yes. Ready-to-drink metal, aluminum, and steel beverage containers, from 100 ml to 2 L, have been subject to a deposit since ^March 1, 2025, with the exception of cans.

Do producers have to have their beverage containers approved byQBCRA before marketing them?

No. Producers do not need to have their beverage containers approved byQBCRA before they are put on the market, but they do need to update their list of products on the Members' portal BEFORE marketing new products.

Will beverage containers from outside Quebec be subject to a deposit?

Yes, if these beverage containers are in the categories of products returned in phases 1 and 2 of the modernization.

To find out which beverage containers are subject to a deposit or are not subject to a deposit, see the Targeted and Non-Targeted Containers page.

Is the producer required to indicate on the product label that beverage containers are returnable?

No. As of November¹, 2023, the government has ended the requirement to indicate the deposit-refund amount deposit-refund returnable beverage containers. The regulation no longer requires any specific mention of the deposit-refund on beverage containers, except for the product barcode, which must be visible and legible. For this reason, it is no longer necessary forQBCRA approve labels before products are marketed.

If the producer still wishes to include a statement on the containers marketed, the formula recommended by theQBCRA "redeemable required by law."

Is it allowed to use plastic sleeves or labels?

No, as was the case before November¹, 2023,QBCRA asks producers not to use plastic sleeves or labels on cans so that the containers can be easily recycled. If the producer chooses to use this type of labelling anyway, and the material is devalued as a result, this devaluation could be charged back to the producer. We recommend printing on cans or affixing a paper label.

Product list update, monthly reporting and audit

What must the producer declare?

The producer must report the number of beverage containers marketed and otherwise distributed during the previous month. Only the beverage containers in question must be reported. Specifically, the producer must report the number of units, not the number of cases.

How to produce a monthly declaration?

Most beverage containers are returnable for 10 cents, with the exception of certain 500 ml to 2 l glass bottles, which are returnable for 25 cents. Producers must invoice retailers and wholesalers for deposit-refund amounts at the time of sale. He must then make a monthly declaration. The monthly declaration is made directly on theQBCRA Members portal. Between the 10th and 15th of each month, the producer must declare the previous month's sales and, along with the declaration, remit the deposit-refund amounts received for that month toQBCRA. The monthly declaration can be completed and submitted directly in the member portal, in the Declarations Management > Declarations section, by clicking on the green "+ Create a declaration" button.

What is the deadline for providing the list of returnable products?

January 15, 2025, was the deadline for all producers selling beverages in redeemable containers redeemable submit their updated product lists. If a producer fails to do so, they must complete this task as soon as possible, otherwise they will be subject to a financial penalty.

Are there any changes to note for producers who are already members and who already make a monthly declaration?

Yes. The producer had to, before January 15, 2025, add returnable plastic beverage containers to the list of products to be declared and must, since March ^1, 2025, pay a financial contribution to finance the system of deposit-refund .

What happens when a producer files their declaration late, after the 15th of the month? What are the consequences?

Interest charges may apply if a producer files their monthly declaration late.

What happens to declarations previously made to Éco Entreprises Québec? Are they maintained?

There can be no double reporting, i.e., a product at end-of-life must be reported to one system and not the other. For example, before March¹, 2025, water bottles were declared to Éco Entreprises Québec, whereas since March^1, 2025, water bottles, since they are now returnable, are declared toQBCRA. However, producers must continue to declare packaging to Éco Entreprises Québec as they did previously.

What about the declaration for the corks?

Like the label and the bottle, the corks are part of the unit to be declared toQBCRA.

How to make payments of the amount of the deposit-refund and the producer's contribution?

Payments must be made by bank transfer. The contact details are:

For more information, consult the QBCRA 2025 Member's Guide in the section Members.

Financial contribution from the producer

What is the producer's financial contribution?

The regulation specifies that if a type of beverage container results in a system deficit, theQBCRA may require producers, as contributions and for the purpose of fulfilling its obligation to ensure the financing of the system deposit-refund, to pay the amounts necessary to do so. The regulations also specify that, in determining the amount due, the designated management organization must take into account the type of container redeemable used by the producer during the relevant year to market or otherwise distribute a product. Consequently, a contribution has been required from members since March 1, 2025. Details of this contribution by container type, as well as the applicable deposit-refund , are presented in the table available here : Members - Consignaction For more information, see Article 94 of the Regulation on the Development, Implementation, and Financial Support of a deposit-refund System for Certain Containers.

Is the contribution the same for all producers, large or small?

Yes.

How does the producer pay his contribution?

The producer pays his contribution at the same time as he remits the amount of the deposit-refund during his monthly declaration. To do this, he must go to the Members portal on the website www.consignaction.ca

Image description

How should the producer's financial contribution be internalized? Should it be made visible?

Internalization of the financial contribution is compulsory if it is partially or fully included in the product's selling price (as opposed to the producer's option of assuming this contribution himself and not increasing the price of his product). This internalized amount can only be made visible at the producer's initiative. It cannot be externalized, as the CRF (Container Recyling Fee) is in some other provinces, and the price cannot be broken down. Here are two invoicing models in line with the Ministry's requirements: Example #1 - The contribution is internalized in the price without being made visible (display) : Image description

Example #2 - The contribution is internalized in the price and is made visible (display) : Image description

From what date will the producer have to pay the contribution?

The producer's financial contribution came into effect on March ¹ , 2025. The first payment must be made when submitting the declaration, i.e. between the 10th and 15th of the following month.

Does the producer have to inform retailers of the amount of the financial contribution he pays?

The producer may choose to make this cost visible.
"This internalized amount may only be made visible at the initiative of the producer who markets, places on the market, or otherwise distributes the product, and this information must then be made visible by the latter as soon as the product is marketed, placed on the market, or otherwise distributed." In such cases, the information must be accompanied by a statement that this amount is used to ensure the recovery and recycling of the redeemable container redeemable the Internet address where more information on this subject can be obtained.
If this is the case, retailers and other sellers may also choose to display the value of this amount.

For more information, see section 98 of the Regulation on the Development, Implementation, and Financial Support of a deposit-refund System deposit-refund Certain Containers.

Will the producers' financial contribution be reassessed each year?

Yes. Each year,QBCRA the amount of the financial contribution to ensure that it covers the costs of deploying the system. The amount of the financial contribution per type of container can be found on the website www.consignaction.ca under the Members tab.

Are there any subsidies to mitigate costs, particularly for the implementation of measures related to the modernization of the system? deposit-refund ?

For more information about grants that may apply, contact theQBCRA membres@consignaction.ca.

Management of Reusable Containers (CRM)

Refillable containers (RCCs) were previously subject to a deposit-refund private sector managed by producers. Since March 1, 2025, how does it work?

Prior to March^1, 2025, the AQRCB provided for a transition period during which producers could continue to recover refillable beverage containers (RBCs) under the same conditions as before. Since March^1, 2025, the AQRCB has been responsible for recovering refillable beverage containers (RSCs), which are processed mainly at the Consignaction and Consignaction+ return sites .

Can refillable containers (RCCs) carry a deposit-refund particular?

Some refillable containers may be subject to a different deposit-refund , but only within the rules prescribed by the regulations, and subject to prior approval byQBCRA.

To find out more, read article 19 of the Regulations - Development, implementation and financial support of a deposit-refund system for certain containers..

Does the producer have to pay a contribution for refillable containers?

No. The producer does not currently have to pay a contribution on refillable containers (RCC).

Customer Service

Any questions?

Producers are invited to contactQBCRA customer serviceQBCRA calling 1-877-CANETTE (1-877-226-3883) or sending an email to the address reserved for producers: membres@consignaction.ca.

Communication

How can the producer participate in communication efforts as part of the modernization of the deposit-refund ?

The producer can participate in communication efforts by relaying information to its target audiences.

How is the producer informed of changes in the system? deposit-refund ?

The producer is informed in various ways, including:

to communications from its associations, such as the Association des brasseurs du Québec, the Association des microbrasseries du Québec and others;
the website www.consignaction.ca. This site contains a wealth of information on deposit-refund systems deposit-refund general. In the Members section, producers will find information relevant to them;
to webinars for producers;
to newsletters sent to them;
to an advertising campaign that began on January 13, 2025 on various platforms: television, radio, print, urban displays, Internet and social media;
to activities organized to inform the media who, in turn, will relay the information to the general public.

Producers can also contactQBCRA 's customer service department for more information by calling 1 877 CANETTE (1 877 226-3883) or using the e-mail address reserved for producers: consignaction

Frequently Asked Questions for Members