Consignaction announces new measures to reduce exceptionally high customer volume in Gatineau
Gatineau, August 10, 2026 – Due to the exceptionally high volume of customer traffic at the Consignaction+ return site in Gatineau since it opened, the Quebec Beverage Container Recycling Association (QBCRA)/Consignaction is announcing today new measures to further reduce lineups and improve the customer experience for the people of Gatineau.
The Consignaction+ return site at 84 Jean-Proulx Street in Gatineau has seen an extraordinary volume of customer traffic, far exceeding its operational capacity, ever since it opened. Consignaction is fully aware of the inconvenience this situation may be causing for residents of Gatineau who want to return their redeemable beverage containers.
Initial measures have already been implemented
Consignaction has rapidly adapted its operations during the last few months to meet this high demand. Among other measures, business hours have been extended and staff have been added at the site to speed up container processing and streamline operations.
But even with these adjustments, customer traffic remains particularly heavy and further measures are required.
One reason for this exceptional situation is the region’s unique shared border with Ontario. Consignaction reminds consumers that it is illegal to claim a refund in Quebec for a beverage purchased outside Quebec and for which a container deposit amount was not paid in Quebec.
The principle is simple: only beverages purchased in Quebec and for which a container deposit amount was paid are eligible for a refund of the deposit amount.
New return sites in Gatineau
In order to increase container recovery capacity and better distribute customer traffic, Consignaction announces that it has recently obtained municipal authorization to open four new return sites in Gatineau over the coming months:
- Consignaction+: 75 du Plateau Boulevard
- Consignaction+: 140 Gréber Boulevard
- Consignaction+: 178 Principale Street
- Consignaction: 1100 de Montréal Ouest Road
Another three sites in the Gatineau area will soon be added to this list.
These new facilities will significantly increase recovery capacity and provide citizens with more options. The new return sites being rolled out gradually are part of the modernization of Québec’s deposit-refund system.
Measures to tackle illegal returns
Consignaction will also be introducing new measures to prevent refunds being given in Quebec for the amount of deposit paid on a container for a beverage purchased outside Quebec.
Ontario residents wishing to claim a refund for a deposit amount they paid in Quebec will therefore now have to use the Express Return service exclusively. This measure will come into effect in the next few days.
Consignaction also reserves the right to introduce additional verification procedures to establish that the beverages were indeed purchased in Quebec and the deposit amount for their containers was paid in Quebec.
Consignaction will continue to monitor the situation closely and may decide to introduce further measures it deems necessary to ensure the integrity of Quebec’s deposit-refund system and to maintain efficient service for Gatineau residents.
“We are very mindful of the inconvenience caused by the exceptionally high volume of customers at the Consignaction+ return site in Gatineau,” said Jean-François Lefort, Vice-President, Strategy, Consignaction. “We have already extended business hours and added staff, but we realize we need to go even further. We will therefore be swiftly expanding the network’s capacity in Gatineau, while strengthening our measures to ensure that only deposit amounts actually paid in Quebec are refunded and that the people of Gatineau receive the service to which they are entitled. Our dual responsibility is to provide citizens with efficient service and to protect the integrity of Quebec’s deposit-refund system.”
For small quantities, participating retailers remain an option
Consignaction also points out that the Consignaction+ return site is not the only option for returning redeemable containers.
People who have small quantities of containers are encouraged to visit participating retailers in Gatineau, who continue to accept them. Using this option avoids the need to travel to a Consignaction+ return site and helps to distribute volumes more evenly across the network. The list of participating retailers is available on the https://consignaction.ca/en/carte-des-lieux-de-retour/ page of the Consignation website.
Consignaction wishes to thank Gatineau citizens for taking part in the deposit-return system and, above all, for their patience during this period of exceptionally high demand.
About Consignaction and the Quebec Beverage Container Recycling Association (QBCRA)
Since 2001, programs branded with the Consignaction name have promoted beverage-container recovery to citizens and companies. Consignaction is the official emblem for promoting the activities of the QBCRA to the public and stakeholders. The QBCRA is the designated management body (DMB) for the development, implementation, financing and management of the modernized deposit-refund system, in line with the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR). Its members are the various beverage producers involved in the recovery, reuse, recycling and reclamation of beverage containers in Quebec. For more information, visit www.consignaction.ca.
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