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While the rest of Canada moves forward, Ontario finds itself lagging behind now as one of only two provinces without a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverages.
Ontario’s existing recycling program falls short, managing to divert less than 50 per cent of non-alcoholic beverage containers. In stark contrast, our deposit-return programs for alcoholic beverage containers achieve rates of 70 to 80 per cent because of the incentive deposit-returns creates.
So why do the big grocery chains, which seem to have been the wrench in the plan, not want to help global plastics issues and recycling efforts?
They continue to lobby to prevent a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic containers on the supposedly altruistic guise that they don’t want consumers paying for the beverage industry’s recycling, yet they are happy to do so for alcoholic beverages, leaving municipalities to shoulder the burden of recycling the other products.
People who use the deposit-return program would get their money back. The consumer is no worse off.
An Environmental Defence poll in May noted 81 per cent of Ontarians want the program and according to the Canadian Beverage Association it is the most efficient way to help us improve our recovery rate to 90 per cent.
While alcoholic containers from convenience and other stores can still be returned to the Beer Store, expanding the deposit-return program to include non-alcoholic beverages would be a transformative victory for Ontario and perhaps a step closer to a circular economy as the manufacturers may get on board. And the Beer Store has done an exemplary job.
So surely with the $230 million the Beer Store received from this government for breaking its contract a year early, they have enough money to expand the deposit-return recycling capture service and even employ more people?
They already take caps, tabs and cardboard and will potentially see less sales business so why not?
With unemployment up since this government took over, and a slogan of ‘we’re open for business’ perhaps this government should ignore big store lobbyists and reconsider, or has it always been about the beer?
Help stop more than 50 per cent of billions of cans and plastic going to landfill. Please do your part to recycle and urge your local MPP to return to the previous plan to implement a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverages.
It's yet another thing to remember at the ballot box.
Melanie Duckett-Wilson
Newmarket
