British Columbians will soon be able to return their milk and plant-based beverage containers for a 10-cent deposit refund at Return-It collection sites across the province.
According to Return-It, collection sites will be giving refunds for milk and plant-based beverage containers starting on February 1.
Clean and empty milk and plant-based containers including oat, almond, and soy, will now be included in the deposit system as a result of a government regulation change, implemented through the CleanBC Plastic Action Plan.
“B.C. continues to lead the way in protecting the environment and extended producer responsibility performance in Canada,” said Allen Langdon, President & CEO of Return-It. “Now British Columbians have even more incentive to recycle their empty milk and plant based beverage containers and keep plastics and other beverage containers out of our landfills, oceans and waterways. But we can’t do this alone – we encourage everyone to participate by returning their empty beverage containers for recycling. In B.C., we are fortunate to have many ways to return beverage containers for recycling and divert them from our natural environment.”
Next month, the 10-cent deposit will be applied to all ready-to-drink milk and plant-based beverage containers and consumers can redeem their full 10-cent deposit refund on these containers when recycling at over 170 Return-It collection sites across B.C.
Only clean containers will be accepted for returns so consumers are encouraged to rinse out containers before visiting a collection site.
Modified milk products or milk products that are not normally considered beverages, such as meal replacement beverages, coffee additives, whipping cream and drinkable yogurt, are not eligible for a 10-cent deposit refund.
“B.C.’s dairy processors are committed to environmental stewardship and supporting solutions that protect our environment and keep our planet clean. We look forward to working with Return-It in continuing to divert material from landfill and waterways,” said Tony Gusikoski, Chair of the Western Dairy Council, the association that represents B.C.’s dairy processors.
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