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Different recyclers offer different pay on cans, bottles

Everyone wants a fair deal and that includes those who are looking for the full deposit refund for beer cans and bottles.
recycling
There are multiple locations in and around Prince George that offer refunds on beer cans and bottles. screen grab photo

Everyone wants a fair deal and that includes those who are looking for the full deposit refund for beer cans and bottles.

There are numerous locations to return beer cans and bottles in Prince George, managed by different programs, with limits or without limits, for full or partial refunds.

It's up to the consumer to decide where to take their returnables and for what amount.

In B.C., there is a 91 per cent return rate for beer cans and bottles because it's a cost that everyone is aware of as they pay it upfront.

"And that's why we have such a high return rate of our beverage containers," Terri McClymont, executive director of Recycling and Environmental Action Planning Society (REAPS), said.

The BC Brewers’ Recycled Container Collection Council (BRCCC) is in charge of offering contracts to licensees and depots through Brewers Distributor Ltd. to collect beverage containers at a full refund of 10 cents.

Other recycling facilities that accept returns are limited or can only offer five cents per can or bottle, which is the set amount for those not contracted to offer the full refund.

"If we look at Prince George we have nine contracted licensee retail stores with unlimited returns and only one authorized depot with unlimited returns and that's the Nechako Bottle Depot on First Avenue that has always been under contract with BRCCC," McClymont said.

And that's why those lineups on First Avenue are always so long.

To see all locations to get full refunds in Prince George, visit https://envirobeerbc.ca/ and click on the blue and brown markers.

For more information about all things recyclable visit REAPS at www.reaps.org. The non-profit organization will launch its new website at the end of January. In the meantime to get the Waste Reduction Directory sheet to see where to recycle everything else, email recycling@reaps.org