Deposit and Collection in Québec: Turning Crisis into an Environmental and Economic Opportunity with Reusable Containers

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The postponement of Québec's glass deposit reform to 2027 represents a missed opportunity to reform a fragmented and inefficient system. The delay stems largely from the logistical complexity of the model proposed by the Association québécoise de récupération des contenants de boissons (AQRCB) and the delays in establishing return points. While Québec stalls, other countries—highlighted in recent La Presse reports—are revitalizing deposit systems under an integrated, unified authority. As Valentin Fournel, Director of the Innovation Team at Citeo (France), explains, this approach offers "a global vision of all issues and all solutions."

Establishing an Environmental Hierarchy - reusable containers are the most responsible

The scientific data are clear: reuse is far more ecological than recycling. A study by the Centre international de référence sur le cycle de vie des produits, procédés et services (CIRAIG) for RECYC-QUÉBEC (2010, updated in 2015) shows that multi-use containers have a significantly lower environmental impact than single-use ones. A reusable glass bottle emits up to 80% fewer greenhouse gases than a single-use bottle when reused about 20 times. Glass production consumes 15 times more energy than simply washing a reusable bottle.

A Pragmatic Proposal: Separate Collection under Unified Management

Return Reuse Repeat

A practical solution to optimise both environmental impact and user experience would be to reserve deposits for reusable containers only, while improving blue box collection for all others.

For reusable containers (such as standard brown beer bottles), deposits remain the most effective way to ensure reuse. These containers can be reused up to 20 times and represent the most ecological solution according to CIRAIG. This model could be expanded to include standardized wine bottles, juice bottles, and jars.

For all other containers (non-reusable glass, plastics, cardboard), an optimised curbside system with household separation would be more efficient. This would involve three distinct bags (glass, plastics, paper/cardboard) that consumers would not need to return to stores. Managed by a single organisation, Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ), this would greatly simplify today's fragmented system and allow for better cost-benefit decision-making.

Separation of materials at the household level results in much higher-quality recyclables, facilitating their resale and reuse. Proven models exist in countries like Japan and Belgium, even in dense urban settings.

A Needed Overhaul of Québec's Current System

To achieve these results, Québec must reconsider its system's management. Currently, two organisations—the AQRCB and ÉEQ—share management of deposits and blue box collection. This artificial split between beverage containers and other food packaging creates unnecessary costs and confusion for consumers, businesses, and stakeholders.

ÉEQ, with its established relationship with over 2,700 producers and its proven expertise in curbside collection and circular economy strategies, is the natural choice to coordinate a unified system for Québec.

Multiple Benefits of This Approach

Benefits to the Environment

Focusing deposits only on reusable containers would dramatically reduce carbon footprints. According to the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), reusable glass generates 50% fewer greenhouse gas emissions after just five reuses, rising to 72% at 20 reuses. Properly separating recyclables at the source vastly improves recyclability: properly sorted glass can be infinitely recycled, while mixed glass becomes difficult to recover.

Benefits to the Economy

For every 1,000 litres of beverage produced, reuse deposit systems offer lower management costs: €256 (approximately CAD $402) for Alsace's Météor brewery compared to €517 (approximately CAD $812) for single-use bottles. Similarly, efficient sorting reduces processing costs and increases material value. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each tonne of properly sorted recyclables generates over $65 in direct economic value. A Swedish study found poor sorting can cost a mid-sized city up to €1.23 million (approximately CAD $1.93 million) per year. Sorting into three distinct streams yields much higher material value than post-collection separation of mixed materials.

Benefits to Logistics and Practicality

Return Reuse Repeat

This approach would significantly reduce the burden on supermarkets, which would only need to handle truly reusable containers, freeing up space and staff. For consumers, the system would be simpler: return only reusable containers to stores and sort other materials at home into dedicated bags. Examples from Japan and Belgium show that even in limited spaces, households can manage a three-stream sorting system. France's Super U supermarkets demonstrate that modern reusable deposit systems can be clean, hygienic, and efficiently managed.

Benefits to the System as a Whole

Unifying management under ÉEQ while maintaining clear material streams would create a virtuous circle: high-value materials (like aluminium and clean glass) could help fund the management of lower-value materials. This solidarity is impossible under the current two-tiered system, where AQRCB retains revenues from the most profitable materials, depriving ÉEQ of resources needed to effectively manage the rest.

International Success Stories

Belgium collects glass, paper/cardboard, and packaging separately, achieving some of Europe's highest recycling rates. Japan achieves exceptional recycling rates despite its dense urbanization, thanks to strict household sorting. Finland's Palpa system focuses on reusable containers, reaching nearly 100% return rates, while other materials are managed by highly effective blue box systems.

My opinion

Québec must now adopt an ecologically and economically pragmatic approach to waste management. Our province has a priceless asset: unmatched expertise through organisations like RECYC-QUÉBEC, industry stakeholders, consultants, and vibrant international francophone exchanges. This wealth of knowledge uniquely positions Québec to implement solutions tailored to its specific reality.

The time has come for a simple yet transformative reform: one that clearly separates two complementary approaches—deposit systems for reusable containers, and segmented blue box collection for everything else. Under unified management, this would create a system benefiting all stakeholders in the value chain.

The benefits would be both immediate and long-term: retailers would see reduced logistical burdens immediately, consumers would benefit from simplified daily routines, the recycling industry would see higher material revenues, businesses would experience lower operational costs, and our collective environmental footprint would significantly improve over time.

Ultimately, the current two-organisation model is an outdated approach, ill-suited to the demands of a true circular economy. The current situation presents a unique opportunity to redesign the system and position Québec as a global leader in sustainable packaging management, balancing economic pragmatism with environmental responsibility.

References

Rousta, K., & Ekström, K. M. (2013). Assessing Incorrect Household Waste Sorting in a Medium-Sized Swedish City. Sustainability, 5(10), 4349–4361. https://doi.org/10.3390/su5104349

ADEME. (2018). Analysis of 10 Reuse or Refillable Household Glass Packaging Systems. Angers, France: French Environment and Energy Management Agency. https://jlaramene.ch/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Analyse-de-10-dispositifs-de-reemploi-reutilisation-d-emballages-menagers-en-verre-ADEME-2018.pdf

Lhotellier, J., Jeuniaux, R., Le Bihan, M., De Caevel, B., RDC Environment, & ADEME. (2023). Environmental Assessment of Glass Packaging Reuse Systems -- Part A. Angers: French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), 282 p. https://librairie.ademe.fr