Rahul Somvanshi
Quebec’s Plastic Bottle Deposit System Expansion: Day One Reality Check
When Quebec flipped the switch on March 1, 2025, adding over one billion plastic beverage containers to its deposit-refund system, the environmental ambition collided with on-the-ground logistics. The expansion now captures everything from 100ml water bottles to 2L milk jugs – all carrying a 10¢ deposit – but the infrastructure struggled to keep pace with this PET revolution.
“With over a billion plastic beverage containers added to the deposit-refund, the citizen gesture of recovering plastic bottles will have a real and very positive impact on our environmental footprint,” said Normand Bisson, President and CEO of QBCRA/Consignaction, the organization tasked with managing the modernized system.
Day one revealed a fragmented implementation reality. Consignaction has deployed only 47 of the planned 200 dedicated return centers – a 76.5% shortfall in infrastructure capacity. Many of the existing reverse vending machines (RVMs) in supermarkets reported technical malfunctions, with barcode readers failing to recognize eligible containers and compactors jamming when processing the PET stream.
At smaller retail locations, confusion reigned. “We do not take plastic, just cans, and we must not mix anything in bags,” insisted one Beauport convenience store employee, despite their location being listed as an official partner on Consignaction’s recovery network. This pattern repeated across both Montreal and Quebec City, with some stores arbitrarily capping returns at 50 containers per customer to manage internal storage constraints
Quebec’s Long Recycling Journey
Quebec’s relationship with container recovery runs deep. Dating back to 1927, the province has operated refillable beer programs, and in 1984, it introduced its first deposit return system (DRS) for one-way glass and metal beer and soda containers. This initial system charged consumers a deposit between 5 and 20 cents, refunded when they returned containers to retailers. However, with no dedicated redemption centers and coverage limited to carbonated soft drinks and beer, the system achieved only a 72% return rate.
The expansion represents Phase 2 of Quebec’s deposit modernization initiated in 2022, which aims to capture five billion containers annually by 2032 with a 90% recovery rate – a quantum leap from current plastic recovery rates hovering at 36%. The 10¢ deposit value applies uniformly across plastic containers, contrasting with higher deposits (25¢) for large format glass.
Technical Specifications Matter
The technical specifications of this recycling infrastructure matter. Modern RVMs employ near-infrared spectroscopy to identify polymer types, with the most advanced units differentiating between PET, HDPE, PP, and distinguishing food-grade from non-food-grade plastics. Current first-generation RVMs deployed in Quebec achieve only 70-80% accuracy in material sorting, compared to newer AI-enhanced systems being tested in Sherbrooke that reach 95% accuracy.
TOMRA, a leading provider of RVM technology, has been instrumental in equipping Quebec’s new “Consignaction+” depots with state-of-the-art bulk-feed machines capable of processing over 100 containers per minute. These modern facilities offer multiple return options, including “bag dump” systems for high-volume returns and single-feed machines for consumers with fewer containers. The depots are designed to refund deposits via paper vouchers or through digital applications, adding convenience for consumers.
For “valoristes” – Quebec’s informal recycling workers – the expansion created an unprecedented surge in collection volumes. Montreal-based operations processed 25,000 containers (15,000 PET bottles) on March 2 alone, while Quebec City locations handled over 4,000 units. But this influx exposed sorting inefficiencies, with cross-contamination between aluminum and plastic streams slowing processing by approximately 40%.
“We need standardized color-coded collection bags – blue for PET, gray for aluminum – to reduce sorting time,” suggested Simon La Terreur of Valoristes Québec. “The current mixed-stream collection adds hours to our processing time and increases contamination rates.”
Financing The System
Behind the scenes, Quebec’s $380M circular economy investment allocates specific funding: $120M for recycling technology upgrades, $90M for consumer education, and $170M for municipal collaboration. Under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, beverage producers fund 100% of the system costs – a polluter-pays model that shifts financial responsibility without necessarily solving implementation challenges.
The system overhaul streamlined management from two Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) into one – the Quebec Beverage Container Recycling Association (QBCRA/AQRCB) – simplifying operations and aligning with common practice in other Canadian provinces.
Jean Falardeau, an IGA grocery owner, expects container returns to potentially double in coming weeks: “When people realize they’re paying a deposit, they’ll want their money back.” His stores, equipped with 2-4 RVMs each, can process approximately 120 containers per hour per machine – far below the 400-500 containers per hour capacity of next-generation systems deployed in European markets.
Environmental Impact
The chemistry matters: PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles, which comprise roughly 70% of the newly added deposit stream, maintain approximately 70-75% of material properties through mechanical recycling, enabling bottle-to-bottle recycling for approximately 5-7 cycles before polymer chain length degradation requires downcycling. This science underpins the entire deposit program’s environmental logic.
Quebec’s current infrastructure (180 RVMs) significantly trails British Columbia’s system (300+ RVMs) which achieves a 98% recovery rate through its 25-year program. The geographic distribution shows urban concentration, with 70% of Quebec’s RVMs located in metropolitan areas, leaving rural regions underserved. To address immediate pressure points, 23 temporary collection units have been deployed near Montreal metro stations and Quebec City shopping hubs.
A government study projected that by reaching the 90% return rate target, Quebec’s modernized DRS would divert 50,500 tons of waste from landfills annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing more than 5,600 cars from the road. The same study estimated the combined modernization of both the deposit system and curbside collection would create approximately 500 new jobs.
Karel Ménard, Director of the Quebec Waste Coalition, provided context: “Only 30% of plastic containers were previously sent for recycling, with the remainder landfilled or littered. There will be adjustments in the coming weeks, particularly with retailers – it’s expected.”
Trash Ahead
The system’s future continues to evolve. By March 2027, glass bottles and multilayer cartons (including wine, spirits, and juice boxes) will enter the deposit stream. Tetra Pak Canada has committed $2M to develop specialized recycling pathways for aseptic cartons, which contain approximately 20% polyethylene and 5% aluminum sandwiched between paper layers – a notoriously challenging material stream that currently sees only 26% recovery nationally.
Quebec’s deposit expansion represents a critical test case in North American recycling infrastructure. The technical capacity, consumer behavior, and material science all intersect in this complex system that transforms discarded PET bottles into valuable feedstock for a circular plastics economy – but only if the collection infrastructure can effectively capture and process the expanded material stream.
The modernization reflects Quebec’s response to an evolving beverage landscape. When the original system was designed in 1984, bottled water wasn’t a significant market segment, and many current beverage categories didn’t exist. By focusing on container material rather than beverage type, the new system adapts to contemporary consumption patterns while supporting local circular economy manufacturers who previously had to import recycled materials from outside the province.
For the system to succeed, the province must meet its commitment to accessibility. Regulations mandate a minimum of 1,200 return locations province-wide, with specific regional distribution requirements based on population density. Retailers with floor space of 375 square meters or larger are required to accept container returns, though those sharing a parking lot can collectively finance a single return center to serve multiple stores.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plastic containers can I now return for a deposit in Quebec?
As of March 1, 2025, you can return all ready-to-drink plastic beverage containers between 100ml and 2L for a 10¢ deposit. This includes water bottles, sparkling water, milk containers, juice bottles, soft drinks, and some spirit bottles. Just look for the deposit amount on your receipt when you buy these drinks.
Where can I return my plastic bottles for a refund?
You have three main options: 1) Return to participating retailers like grocery stores and convenience stores that have collection machines or manual collection, 2) Visit dedicated Consignaction and Consignaction+ return sites (special centers just for container returns), or 3) Use temporary collection points set up near metro stations in Montreal and shopping centers in Quebec City. Find the nearest location at www.consignaction.ca/carte-des-lieux-de-retour/
Why are some stores refusing to take my plastic bottles?
Some stores, especially smaller convenience stores, may refuse plastic bottles due to staff confusion about the new rules or space limitations. While they’re supposed to accept eligible containers if they’re listed as partners, the rollout has been uneven. If a store refuses your containers, you can report this to Consignaction or try a larger grocery store or dedicated return center instead.
How do I know if my container qualifies for a deposit?
Look for the “CONSIGNÉE – REFUND” or similar marking on the label and check your receipt – the 10¢ deposit will be listed separately when you purchase the drink. Water bottles, juice containers, milk jugs, and soft drinks in plastic containers from 100ml to 2L now all qualify. Glass bottles and cartons (like juice boxes) aren’t included yet but will be added in 2027.
What happens to the bottles after I return them?
After collection, bottles are sorted by material type and color, compressed into bales, and sent to recycling facilities. The plastic (mostly PET) is cleaned, shredded, and processed into flakes or pellets. These can be used to make new bottles or other products like clothing, carpet, or furniture. A plastic bottle can be recycled about 5-7 times before the material quality degrades too much for bottle production.
When will glass bottles and juice boxes be added to the deposit system?
Glass bottles and multilayer cartons (juice boxes, soup containers, etc.) will be added to Quebec’s deposit system in March 2027. This final phase will complete the modernization of Quebec’s deposit system. The two-year gap gives recyclers time to develop specialized equipment for these materials, which are more challenging to process than plastic.
