TELL THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND DEPOSIT RETURN TO ALL BEVERAGE CONTAINERS
THE PROBLEM
Ontario is one of only two provinces in Canada without a deposit-return system for non-alcoholic beverage containers. As a result, it has the worst beverage container recycling rate in the country. Every year we wait to do the right thing, an estimated 1.7 billion plastic drink bottles end up in landfills, incinerators, and littered in nature. You can’t get good recycling or refill rates for empties by relying on a curbside recycling program like the Blue Box. It just doesn’t work the way deposit-return systems work.
THE SOLUTION
The Ontario government already supports a very successful deposit-return program for alcoholic beverages. It's a proven, common-sense policy solution and it must be applied to all beverages sold in the province. Polling consistently shows that, regardless of where they live or their political affiliation, Ontarians want a comprehensive deposit-return program. We need the provincial government to act now. There is no time to waste.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Send a letter right now to Environment Minister Todd McCarthy so he gets the message: it’s time for Ontario to expand deposit return to include all beverage containers. Deposit return is essential to reducing plastic pollution in Ontario.
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Ontario has one of the worst track records in Canada for collection and refilling or recycling of beverage containers. It is high time for the government to implement a comprehensive deposit-return program for all types of beverages.