Ontario’s blue bin system is failing to keep non-alcoholic beverage containers out of landfills and the environment
Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – We are relieved to learn that The Beer Store’s successful reuse and recycling program will be preserved. The existing deposit return program keeps hundreds of millions of reusable glass beer bottles in circulation, and even more cans and plastic containers out of landfills and the environment.
The preservation of this successful program indicates that the province recognizes its value. It is only logical that it would also see the value of a complementary deposit program for non-alcoholic beverage containers. The current blue bin recycling system is failing: only 43 per cent of non-alcoholic beverage containers are collected and recycled in Ontario. Meanwhile, the Beer Store’s successful deposit-return program collects nearly 80 per cent of beer containers and packaging. There’s no good reason not to require this best-in-class approach for the estimated 3.5 billion pop, juice and other non-alcoholic beverage containers sold in Ontario every year.
It’s long past time to address the abysmal state of recycling in this province. We urge Premier Ford and his government to show leadership and require deposit return for all beverage containers.
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Lauren Thomas, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
The post Statement From Ashley Wallis, Associate Director: Preservation of the Beer Store’s Recycling and Reuse Program Should Prompt Complementary Deposit Return System for All Other Beverage Containers appeared first on Environmental Defence.
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