Summary of findings
- While program funding options exist to pass the cost to consumers (CRF, Half-back), direct brandowner responsibility ensures cost scrutiny, and provides incentives for environmentally friendly packaging choices.
- Deposit return programs generate the bulk of program revenues from polluters and recovered material revenue
- Increasing the deposit level from 5-cents to 10-cents on existing deposit containers will contribute significant additional revenue to further finance the system.
- Retailers will receive at least an additional $2.6 million in new handling commissions if the deposit level increases from 5-cents to 10-cents on existing deposit containers
- Collecting soft-drink and beer containers via curbside recycling will increase overall program costs to municipalities and will increase bottlers’ costs in terms of new stewardship fees.
- Increasing the deposit from 5-cents to 10-cents can result in an increase in recovery of at least (a minimum of) 10%. An increase of 10% is a conservative estimate.
- To date, there is no research available that attributes a direct decline in sales as a result of a new deposit, or an increased level of a deposit.
- The analysis shows no impact on sales as a result of increased deposit values.
- No Canadian provinces or U.S. states can demonstrate comparable recycling rates to those states or provinces with deposit programs.
- When away-from-home consumption and recovery are included, recovery rates for nondeposit beverage containers decline in all categories, especially water.
- The results show that the greatest increase in material recovery can be gained from increasing the value of the deposit from 5-cents to 10-cents and expanding the program to include water bottles, and wine and spirit containers.
- A repeal of the deposit return program would result in material recovery decreases for all material, including over 3,000 tonnes of aluminum; and 3,000 tonnes of PET.
- A repeal of the existing deposit return program will result in an increase of 40,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the direct decline in recycling. This increase in emissions is equivalent to adding 7,326 passenger vehicles to the road every year.
- Increasing the deposit level from 5-cents to 10-cents and expanding the program to include water bottles, and wine and spirit containers has the greatest impact in avoiding about 52,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from increased recycling. This reduction in emissions is equivalent to removing 9,524 passenger vehicles to the road every year.
