July 29, 2009
Straight.com
Metro Vancouver committee recommends increasing deposits for beverage containers
In a bid to encourage more recycling, Metro Vancouver’s waste management committee is recommending an increase in deposits for containers of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
In a memo to be considered Friday (July 31) by the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District, the committee is also proposing the inclusion of milk and Tetra Pack food containers in the deposit-refund system.
The B.C. Ministry of Environment has the power to implement these suggestions, which the regional district can endorse.
Metro Vancouver, according to the staff report cited in the committee’s memo, has banned throwing away beverage containers but refundable containers continue to end up in garbage.
The report also stated that over the past few years, about one percent of garbage has consisted of beverage containers that could have been returned.
Nonprofit agency Encorp Pacific manages the province’s deposit-refund beverage container program. Its recovery rate for containers increased to 77.1 percent in 2008, exceeding the official diversion target of 75 percent.
“Increasing deposit levels may lead to a greater incentive for consumers to return their beverage containers for refund and increase the recovery rate beyond the current 77.1%,” the staff report stated. “Industry stewards and provincial regulators can be further encouraged to continually improve diversion rates to help meet the objectives of the Zero Waste Challenge.”
At present the deposit and refund for containers of non-alcoholic beverages the size of one litre or less is five cents. Containers of alcoholic beverages of the same size require a deposit of 10 cents. All beverage containers of more than litre have a deposit and refund of 20 cents.
In its memo, the committee noted that increased deposit levels will “reflect changing economic factors such as increased consumer prices”.
“These factors may have eroded the financial incentive of the original minimum level for container deposits,” the memo stated.
http://www.straight.com/article-244983/metro-vancouver-consider-increasing-deposits-beverage-containers
