The management body overseeing Quebec’s bottle refund program has announced operational adjustments in response to the persistent long queues at its return centers, a move that may impact the ease of refund redemption for Ontarians. Despite extending their operational hours, some return centers have faced overwhelming demand, notably the Jean-Proulx Consignaction+ located approximately eight kilometers from downtown Ottawa.
While Quebec and Ontario have differing deposit requirements for beverage containers, only Quebec permits refunds on items such as soft drink containers, juice cartons, and milk jugs. Although it is illegal in Quebec to claim a refund for a container not purchased in the province, some Ontarians have attempted to do so.
As part of the new measures, residents of Ontario will now need to utilize an “express return” feature allowing them to drop off bags of unsorted containers for processing and receive their refunds via the Consignaction app approximately a week later. This method enables Consignaction to sort through the containers, ensuring only eligible items are refunded in Quebec.
Consignaction has hinted at the potential introduction of “additional verification mechanisms” to validate the origin of containers purchased in Quebec. Additionally, the organization is set to establish seven new bulk return locations in Gatineau, with addresses at 75 blvd. du Plateau, 140 blvd. Gréber, 178 rue Principale, and 1100 chemin Montréal W, while details of the other three locations are forthcoming. Most return sites in Gatineau are situated within stores and can only accommodate smaller quantities of empty containers.