Frequently asked questions for municipalities

There are two ways to get a refund for returnable containers: 

• Cash refund: You can get the value of your deposits refunded in cash at a self-serve kiosk when you bring your containers to a return site.  

• Refund via e-transfer: You can get the value of your deposits refunded electronically through the secure Consignaction app. 

Download the app: Apple / Google 

You can donate a refund amount to an organization by contacting them directly.

Yes. Retailers are obliged to indicate the amount of the deposit on the sales receipt. More precisely: “The amount of the deposit must also appear on the invoice for the person who purchases the product, on a line just below the line indicating the amount of the sale.”

To learn more, read Article 52 of the Regulation Respecting the Development, Implementation and Financial Support of a Deposit-Refund System For Certain Containers.

There are several types of return sites for your deposit-refund containers in Quebec: 

• Zone Consignaction: These kiosks are designated areas located inside participating retailers. 

• Consignaction: These return sites accept Single-Unit Returns and Express Returns.  

• Consignaction+: These return sites accept Single-Unit Returns, Express Returns and Bulk Returns.  

To find out what services are offered at each site and find the return site nearest you, see the Consignaction return site map. 

 Consignaction and Consignaction + return sites:  

• Daily 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., except Thursdays and Fridays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

• Sites are closed on January 1, June 24 and December 25. Reduced hours on January 2 (1 p.m. to 7 p.m.), December 24 (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.), December 26 (1 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and December 31 (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)  

Zones Consignaction (kiosks inside participating retailers): 

• Same hours of operation as the retailer. 

Yes. Kiosks are open the same days and times as the retailer they are located in, due to regulatory requirements. 

• Express Return: This option is available at Consignaction and Consignaction+ sites. It is used to drop off bags of unsorted beverage containers. Because the bags are sorted and counted subsequently, the mobile app is required to identify the user and process the refund. 

• Bulk Return: This option is exclusively offered at Consignaction+ sites. You deposit your unsorted containers into the machine, which counts them immediately. 

To find out what services are offered at each site and find the return site nearest you, see the Consignaction return site map. 

Here are the main reasons why some retailers no longer accept these containers: 

• Retailers with a sales area of 375 m2 (4,036 ft2) or less (e.g., small grocery or convenience store) are no longer required to take returnable beverage containers.  

• Other retailers no longer accept returnable containers because they are grouped with another return site located nearby, so are no longer required to offer the service themselves.  

• Some retailers who used to participate in the recovery of returnable beverage containers have now opted out.  

A kiosk is an outdoor facility equipped with reverse vending machines, located close to a retailer’s main building, e.g., in the parking lot. People can drop off their redeemable beverage containers there, except for redeemable beer bottles (MFCs), which must be taken to the service counter inside. Kiosks are branded with the Consignaction colours and the Zone Consignaction symbol :

The service provided at a Zone Consignaction return point is:

• Single-Unit Return: via reverse vending machines or at the customer service counter.

To learn more about the different types of return site and the services they provide, read Fact Sheet 4.

The services provided at a Consignaction return site are:

• Single-Unit Return: Deposit-return beverage containers one by one via next-generation automated reverse vending machines. via reverse vending machines.
• Express Return: Drop-off clear bags containing unsoreted of deposit-return containers.
  • Containers are counted later, and the refund is issued via electronic transfer.
  • Important: This service requires the Consignaction mobile app.

To learn more about the different types of return site and the services they provide, read Fact Sheet 4.

The services provided at a Consignaction return site are:

• Single-Unit Return: Deposit-return beverage containers one by one via next-generation automated reverse vending machines. via reverse vending machines.
• Express Return: Drop-off clear bags containing unsoreted of deposit-return containers.
  • Containers are counted later, and the refund is issued via electronic transfer.
  • Important: This service requires the Consignaction mobile app.
• Bulk Return : Drop-off large quantities of unsorted deposit-return containers.

To learn more about the different types of return site and the services they provide, read Fact Sheet 4.

Yes, all Consignaction return sites are accessible by people with reduced mobility.

 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. 

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.

No. Wine bottles are not currently covered by the deposit-refund system. 

However, they will be included in Phase 3 of the program expansion, planned for March 2027. 

Yes.At Consignaction and Consignaction+ sites, plastic, aluminum and glass containers can all be put in the same bag.  

No. At Zone Consignaction kiosks at participating retailers, containers must be sorted by material. 

Bags of returnable bottles collected by organizations for a fundraiser are not accepted by retailers. The citizens or organization in charge of the collection must bring the bags to a Consignaction (max 10 bags) or Consignaction+ (max 20 bags) site. See the map of return sites.  

If you anticipate collecting more than 20 bags of returnable containers, we recommend that you contact us well in advance of your event at ecsp@consignaction.ca. Our team can advise you and offer tailored solutions. 

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. 

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

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.”

The co-operation of municipalities is essential to the success of this social project put forward by the government. In concrete terms, municipalities can:

• inform citizens about deposit-refund modernization, more specifically about containers that are newly redeemable, so that they adopt good recycling behaviours, about how to return redeemable beverage containers, about existing facilities near them, etc.;
• facilitate the implementation of the new Consignaction and Consignaction+ banners, for example by amending municipal by-laws, if necessary.

If a small municipality no longer has a return site, residents should consult the interactive map of return sites to find the site nearest them. It will generally be along their usual shopping route, in a retail hub. The QBCRA intends for 90% of Quebec’s population to be able to access a return site in 15 minutes or less.

Yes. The Regulation stipulates that the QBCRA must set up at least two return sites per regional municipality. Note, however, that the QBCRA establishes return sites wherever numbers warrant, i.e., wherever the expected volume of redeemable beverage containers to be returned exceeds 2 million. Below that threshold, containers are recovered at Zone Consignaction return points (participating retailers) targeted under the Regulation (those with a exceeding 375 m² [4,036 ft2]).
If an agglomeration has more than 10,000 residents, this is another good indicator of whether a return site should be established there.

To learn more, read Article 42 of the Regulation Respecting the Development, Implementation and Financial Support of a Deposit-Refund System For Certain Containers.

In the fall of 2024, the QBCRA communicated the lists of return sites to municipalities via the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) and the Association des directeurs généraux des municipalités du Québec (ADGMQ), and during a webinar for all municipalities concerned. With few exceptions, all municipalities concerned should already have been contacted.

Given that a number of steps may need to be taken, including adoption of a by-law permitting development of a return site or amendments to the urban plan and regulations, it is recommended that municipalities take steps without delay. Municipalities can consult the Guide to Extended Producer Responsibility for Municipalities (in French). You can also contact the relevant team by calling 1 877 CANETTE (1 877 226-3883) or e-mailing municipalite@consignaction.ca.

No. This is on a case-by-case basis. You can contact the relevant team at 1 877 CANETTE (1 877 226-3883) or by e-mailing municipalite@consignaction.ca.

The QBCRA is responsible for setting up and managing return sites as well as all related costs, such as rental of premises.

The time required to set up a Consignaction or Consignaction+ return site can vary greatly. There are many criteria to consider, including municipal policies, geographic location, availability of suitable premises, the nature of the construction and fit-up work to be performed, staff recruiting, etc. Consequently, it may take anywhere from six weeks to several months from the time the required permits are issued by the municipality.

The Regulation stipulates that a municipality cannot decline a request to host a return site. You can discuss this with the relevant team by calling 1 877 CANETTE (1 877 226-3883) or e-mailing municipalite@consignaction.ca.

No, that is not being considered at this time.

The QBCRA begins by studying the availability of commercial rental premises in municipalities. Should space on municipal property that meets the needs and criteria for establishment become available, however, the QBCRA may consider that option.

No. The only glass materials accepted at Consignaction return sites are redeemable beverage containers. All other glass containers, including wine and spirits bottles (which will be redeemable in 2027) and food containers, are not recovered by Consignaction. It may be a good idea to set up a container for collection of non-refundable glass containers near a Consignaction return site, which would be convenient for residents.

A return site is set up in consultation with the municipality. There are many benefits to setting up a return site, including:

• participation in a collective project with environmental benefits;
• access to modern, efficient recovery facilities for residents, local institutions and businesses;
•  concentration of redeemable beverage container recovery operations in a smaller number of locations;
• increased footfall in retail areas;
• job creation;
• overall, reduced frequency of collections in a given municipality, since there will be fewer small return points, and a concomitant impact on transportation and greenhouse-gas emissions.

A return site must be set up in consultation with the municipality so as to properly assess the situation and mitigate any potential impacts. The municipalities that took part in the 2021 and 2022 pilot projects reported very few adverse impacts.

Return sites must meet strict criteria for cleanliness and hygiene, noise, handling and transportation. They must also be located at a distance that takes into account any existing Zone Consignaction return points en place (participating retailers). Furthermore, the QBCRA prioritizes locations near retail zones, along people’s usual shopping routes.

When a return site opens, the QBCRA inform the municipal administration. It also informs local media and makes announcements on social networks, and informs citizens about the expansion of deposit-refund via advertising campaigns.

The QBCRA relies on the support of municipalities to relay information to their residents using their communications tools: website, municipal newsletter or bulletin, social networks, news releases, etc.

To that end, the QBCRA provides municipalities and their communications teams with a toolbox that contains a support guide, graphics standards guide, logos and pictograms, various advertising templates, reference texts and frequently asked questions (FAQ) files. The toolbox is accessible via this link.

If a retailer is targeted by the Regulation, its main obligations are to:

• Register with the QBCRA/Consignaction by creating an account on the Retailers portal.
• Accept returns of all redeemable beverage containers and refund the amount of the deposit, regardless of where the containers were purchased.
• Display the amount of the deposit where beverages in redeemable containers are sold.
• Post a sign at the entrance to the business stating that it is a redeemable beverage container return site.

To learn more, read Article 45 and following of the Regulation Respecting the Development, Implementation and Financial Support of a Deposit-Refund System For Certain Containers.

If a retailer is not targeted by the Regulation or is part of a grouping of retailers, its main obligations are to:

• Display the amount of the deposit where beverages in redeemable containers are sold.
• Post, inside or at the entrance to the business, the address of the nearest return site.

To learn more, read Article 53 of the Regulation Respecting the Development, Implementation and Financial Support of a Deposit-Refund System For Certain Containers.

The decision to install outdoor kiosk must be made jointly with the municipality in question. It is important to carefully assess the situation on the basis of municipalities’ prerogatives.

All organizations involved in the modernization of the deposit-refund system have a regulatory obligation to recover redeemable beverage containers. That said, the QBCRA’s primary mission is to recover redeemable beverage containers that are sorted at source. Consequently, 100% of containers processed through Consignaction return sites are recycled or reused—not to mention that this is the only way for citizens to be refunded their deposit. Lastly, it is thanks to citizen participation in the deposit-refund system that the QBCRA will be able to achieve the government’s target recovery rate of 90% of redeemable beverage containers by 2032.

A QBCRA team is currently travelling throughout Quebec to meet permanent retailers concerned one by one and determine their redeemable beverage container recovery needs, taking into account, among other things, the 1.2 billion plastic containers that are now redeemable as of March 1, 2025. The QBCRA has already ordered kiosks for certain retailers, who will be responsible for requesting the required permit from the municipality and for operating the kiosk. The QBCRA covers the cost of building the kiosk.

Only a permanent retailer can host a kiosk. To do so, the retailer must meet certain criteria set by the QBCRA in collaboration with the food retailer industry, including a criterion concerning the estimated volume of redeemable beverage containers.

For the past several months, a QBCRA team has been travelling throughout Quebec to meet the permanent retailers concerned and determine their redeemable beverage container recovery needs. When the kiosk recovery option is chosen, the QBCRA team handles all stages of implementation. All costs for equipment purchases and construction of the kiosk are borne by the QBCRA. Permanent retailers who want to know more should contact QBCRA Customer Service at 1 877 CANETTE (1 877 226-3883), ext. 2 or using the e-mail address reserved for retailers, detaillants@consignaction.ca.

• be within the radius specified in the regulations
• receive approval from theQBCRA.

Municipalities are kept informed of upcoming changes in a variety of ways, including:

• The QBCRA website
• Newsletters sent to municipalities via their associations.
• Newsletters sent to municipalities that are on the QBCRA mailing list.
• Webinars that have been presented by the QBCRA since 2022.
• The Toolbox available in the Municipalities section of the website.
• Communications to the media, which then relay the information to the general public.

Municipalities can also contact QBCRA Customer Service for more information, by calling 1 877 CANETTE (1 877 226-3883) or using the e-mail address reserved for municipalities: municipalites@consignaction.ca.

• The Consignaction websiteconsignaction contains a wealth of information on deposit-refund systems deposit-refund general. In the modernization section, citizens will find information on the rollout of the modernized deposit-refund system.
• An advertising campaign kicked off on January 13, 2025 on a variety of platforms: television, radio, print, urban billboards, the Internet and social media.
• Communications are planned to inform the media, who will in turn relay the information to the general public.
• In-store signage will inform customers about the main changes affecting them

Yes, Consignaction boxes and bags can be ordered:

• directly from the online store
• by writing to info@consignaction.ca
• by calling 1 877-CANETTE (1 877 226-3883)