Beverage container refund and deposit levels increased

Ralph Wiseman, Minister of Environment, today announced changes to the beverage container deposit refund program. Effective February 23, 2001, the refund for non-alcoholic beverage containers will increase from three cents to five cents and effective April 1, 2001, the deposit will increase from six cents to 10 cents per container. No changes were made to the deposit and refund levels for alcoholic beverage containers. 

"I am confident that the new refund and deposit levels will result in an increase in the return rates for beverage containers, and I encourage all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to recycle beverage containers and take advantage of the new refund rate," said Minister Wiseman.

The beverage container deposit refund program was established by government in 1997 in an effort to reduce the number of beverage containers going into landfill sites. At that time, it was expected that by year four of the program, approximately 80 per cent of non-alcoholic beverage containers would be recycled. However, recovery rates for non-alcoholic beverage containers have stagnated at 50 per cent, and Minister Wiseman explained that government has been looking into how the recovery rates can be improved. 

"Government has been working with the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board and depot operators to examine ways to increase the number of beverage containers recycled in the province. We feel that increasing the deposit to 10 cents and the refund to five cents will increase the recovery rates," explained Minister Wiseman. "These deposit and refund levels are consistent with other Atlantic Canadian provinces which are experiencing in excess of 70 per cent recovery rates."

The beverage container deposit refund program is administered by the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB), a Crown agency established by the Department of Environment to develop, and where appropriate, manage waste diversion programs in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

"This is a step forward in helping to protect our environment for future generations, and is a great initiative to help boost recovery rates while at the same time reduce waste going to our landfill sites through increased recycling," said Gordon Seabright, chair, MMSB. 

Minister Wiseman added that schools which participate in the MMSB School Recycling Contest will continue to receive matching funds from the MMSB through the Waste Management Trust Fund, and as of March 1, 2001 the matching portion will increase to five cents per non-alcoholic container. "I am very pleased that our schools will receive a total of 10 cents per non-alcoholic beverage container and will be able to raise more money through recycling programs as a result of the increased rates," he said. "Our youth are one of greatest assets in our efforts to promote recycling and in working to protect our environment. I encourage all of our young people to continue to develop and implement recycling projects." 
For information on the administration of the beverage container deposit refund program, please contact the MMSB. 

Media contact:

Diane Keough, Director of Communications
Department of Environment
(709) 729-2575

Karen O'Neill, Communications
Multi-Materials Stewardship Board
(709) 753-0949

2001 02 21                                                        2:10 p.m.