Consignaction is launching a media campaign this spring to raise awareness about the effectiveness of the deposit-return. The campaign aims to reassure Quebecers about this recovery method, which allows for 100% recycling of returnable bottles and cans.

“When I bring my bottle or can back to the store, I can be sure that it will be 100% recycled” says the ad, which was broadcast on several platforms, including television, radio and social media. Consignaction’s message concludes with the tagline, “The deposit-return is safe.”

No Trash, No Waste

“We can have complete confidence in the deposit-return system, which recycles 100 percent of the containers collected. This system has been proven for 35 years. Bringing back your returnable containers to the convenience store or supermarket is an activity that avoids the waste of resources, and meets the principles of the circular economy,” says Normand Bisson, president of Consignaction.

Some facts and figures

In Quebec, Consignaction manages to recover 76% of the refundable containers in circulation. However, every day, more than 1.3 million returnable bottles and cans, whether made of glass, plastic or aluminum, are thrown away and eventually end up in landfills.

• Returnable cans and bottles that are returned to the merchant are 100% recycled.
• An aluminum can is infinitely recyclable without ever losing its properties.
• The deposit-return allows us to financially support social organizations or people in need and has created thousands of jobs throughout Quebec.
• The energy saved by recycling a single plastic bottle can power a computer for 25 minutes.
• A plastic bottle can take up to 400 years to decompose in the environment.
• An aluminum can takes 200 to 500 years to break down in the environment.

About Consignaction

Consignaction was established by Boissons Gazeuses Environnement (BGE). The organization promotes various programs and initiatives to encourage consumers and businesses to recover returnable bottles and cans and to facilitate access to various recovery facilities for these containers.

About the deposit-return

The deposit-return system in Quebec has been in place since 1984. It is a recovery method based on the temporary collection of a deposit when a container is sold. This deposit is refundable in order to encourage the consumer to return the container for recovery and recycling. Thus, a deposit-refund system represents no cost to the person returning the container. It is only the person who chooses to dispose of the container who incurs a financial cost. In Quebec, non-refillable beer and soft drink containers made of aluminum, plastic and glass are all returnable. The deposit ensures that containers returned to retailers are 100% recycled.