Frequently asked questions for municipalities

The current deposit-return system dates to 1984, so an overhaul was needed. In 2022, to help improve recovery and recycling of our beverage containers, the Government of Quebec enacted a law that lays out the bases for modernization of the system.

One of the Government’s objectives is to increase the recovery rate for redeemable beverage containers to 90% by 2032.

Phase 1 – As of November 1, 2023:

• The deposit amount is now 10 cents: the amount of the deposit on the majority of redeemable beverage containers is now 10 cents, except for glass bottles of between 500 mL and 2 L, which are already redeemable and for which the amount is 25 cents.
• All aluminum ready-to-drink beverage containers of between 100 mL and 2 L are redeemable.

Phase 2 – Beginning March 1, 2025:

• Deposit-refund is expanded to all plastic ready-to-drink beverage containers of between 100 mL and 2 L, including water, sparkling water and juice bottles;
• The network of beverage container return locations is transformed, with, among other things, implementation of Consignaction and Consignaction+ return sites exclusively dedicated to recovery of beverage containers. These return sites feature state-of-the-art, high-performance equipment with the capacity to handle the expected large volumes of containers.

Phase 3 – Beginning March 1, 2027:

• Deposit-refund is expanded to all glass and multi-layer carton ready-to-drink beverage containers of between 100 mL and 2 L;
• A total of 5 billion beverage containers will be subject to deposit-refund in Quebec.

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

In Quebec, redeemable beverage containers include:

• The vast majority of soft-drink and beer containers
•  All ready-to-drink beverage cans of between 100 mL and 2 L
• All plastic ready-to-drink beverage containers of between 100 mL and 2 L, including bottles of water, sparkling water, juice, milk, and spirits

To find out which beverage containers are redeemable and which are not, see the page Targeted and non-targeted containers on the website.

See also the List of all redeemable beverage containers and the amounts of the deposit applicable

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. The Quebec government has postponed the deposit-refund on wine and spirits bottles and multilayer cartons until March 1, 2027.

Yes, the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) has a regulatory obligation to participate in the deposit-refund system, as do all other producers

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 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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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.

Generally speaking, all retailers targeted by the Regulation are required to accept returns of all redeemable beverage containers and refund the amount of the deposit, regardless of where the containers were purchased. If they are not targeted by the Regulation, they are nevertheless required to post, inside or at the entrance to the business, the address of the nearest return location.

For the full obligations of targeted and non-targeted retailers, see the FAQ for Retailers.

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.

It is no longer necessaryto look for the words “Consignée Québec” on redeemable beverage containers. To find out whether a container is redeemable, refer to the question “Which beverage containers are included in the Quebec deposit system; i.e., redeemable?” in this FAQ list, or view What to return > Targeted and non-targeted containers. You can also view the List of returnable beverage containers and deposit refund applicable.

For full details on refund methods, see Return sites on the website.

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

Complete information is available on the Map of return sites on the website.

There are two types of return site:

• Zone Consignaction return points (participating retailers)
• Consignaction and Consignaction+ return sites (boutique-style spaces)

Detailed information about the various return sites may be found on the page Return sites.

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

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.

• return sites Consignaction and Consignaction+ return sites : daily, 8 am to 6 pm, except Thursdays and Fridays, 8 am to 7 pm.
• Consignaction drop-off points Consignaction participating retailers): opening hours are the same as the retailer opening hours.

In 2023, the Ministère de l’Environnement du Québec has modernized the province’s deposit-refund system with the objective of improving recovery and recycling and helping to grow the circular economy.

To successfully implement modernization, it was essential that the network of redeemable beverage container return sites be transformed. This means changing from a return-to-retailer model to a hybrid model that includes:

• Spaces that are branded Consignaction and Consignaction+, exclusively dedicated to returns of redeemable beverage containers; and
• Zone Consignaction return points at participating retailers.

The purpose of the change is to gain the capacity to process the expected large volumes of containers and achieve the target recovery rate of 90% by 2032.

The network will comprise more than 3,500n return sites by March 1, 2025.

Yes. The network of return locations is being transformed and optimized. There will eventually be fewer locations, but the new Consignaction and Consignaction+ return sites have the capacity to receive and process much larger volumes of beverage containers thanks to high-performance, efficient equipment that uses state-of-the-art technology.

People can consult the Map of return sites on the Consignaction website at any time to find the site nearest them.

Since November 1, 2023, retailers who used to recover redeemable beverage containers have been required to post a sign at the entrance to their business indicating whether they still do. If they do not, they must post the address of the nearest return site.

A retailer who will no longer be accepting returns of redeemable beverage containers is required to give people approximately one month’s notice by posting a sign at the entrance to their store providing the address of the nearest return site.

If the retailer is part of a group, they must use the posters e-mailed to them by the QBCRA once the grouping is in effect. The posters can also be downloaded via the retailers’ account once the grouping has been confirmed.

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 :

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, [email protected].

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.

Yes, kiosks must be open on the same days and during the same hours as the business. This is a regulatory requirement. Furthermore, the kiosk business days and hours must be posted on the premises such that they are easily visible from outside.

To learn more, read Articles 27 and 28 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.

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

There are three main reasons why some retailers are no longer accepting returns:

• Pursuant to deposit-refund modernization, retailers with smaller sales areas, equal to or less than 375 m²/4,036 sq ft (for example, small grocery stores and dépanneurs), were no longer required as of November 1, 2023, to accept returns of redeemable beverage containers. Some smaller-size retailers, however, have chosen to voluntarily continue to accept returns.
• Other retailers are no longer accepting returns because they grouped together with another return point (a targeted retailer, i.e., with a sales area larger than 375 m²) located nearby and as a result they are no longer required to offer the service directly. These retailers are required to post a notice at the entrance to their store providing the address(es) of the nearest location(s) where citizens can now return containers.
• Still other retailers, who had been participating in redeemable beverage container recovery on a volunteer basis, have decided to no longer do so.

If a retailer is no longer a return site, it is obliged to notify the public approximately one month in advance by placing a sign at the entrance to the business, indicating the address of the nearest return site. The grouped retailer must use the posters sent by e-mail by the AQRCB when the grouping is in effect. These posters can also be downloaded from the retailer ‘s account once the grouping has been confirmed.

The QBCRA took environmental impact into account when planning the new network of return locations, so as to minimize transportation and handling. With the new network, 90% of people in Quebec will be able to get to a return location in 15 minutes or less. A further criterion for choosing return locations was to make sure they are along people’s usual grocery shopping routes.

One of the benefits of deposit-refund system modernization is that the network of return sites is being optimized. The reduction in the number of return sites and the creation of the Consignaction and Consignaction+ sites will significantly reduce trucking and, in turn, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Bags of redeemable beverage containers brought by organizations after a fundraising event are not accepted by retailers.

Citizens or organizations holding a fundraiser must return their bags to a Consignaction return site (maximum of 10 bags) or a Consignaction+ location (maximum of 20 bags). Please refer to Map of return site.

If you plan to return more than 20 bags, we recommend contacting us at the following email address: [email protected], well before your fundraising activity or event. Our team will be happy to assist you and suggest suitable solutions.

Once you’ve finished your drinks and taken the containers to a return location, the containers embark on a long recycling journey. Depending on what they’re made of—aluminum, plastic or glass—beverage containers will find new life as another container or be repurposed into something new. To learn all about what happens to beverage containers, from the retailer’s shelves to the recovery facility, processing plant and recycling plant, go to The Container’s Journey or watch the informational video The Infinite Life Cycle of an Aluminum Can.

You can make a thousand-and-one things out of empty cans or bottles. Not only can aluminum, plastic and glass be recycled into new containers, but they are also used to manufacture hundreds of practical items, from clothing to bicycles, cars, construction materials and much, much more.

Yes, Consignaction boxes and bags can be ordered:

• directly from the online store
• by writing to [email protected]
• by calling 1 877-CANETTE (1 877 226-3883)

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: [email protected].

• 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