A proposal to expand the province’s beverage container deposit program to include milk containers is being welcomed by the Recycling Council of British Columbia.

Policy Director Harv Aujala says they have been advocating for the change for a number of years, adding the province is also proposing to bring in a ten cent refundable deposit across the board.

“So they say that when Alberta made the switch, their recovery rates went up by about 10 per cent,” she said. “So it was an incentive for people to take back more containers because of the rate. In this case, it would double the juice and pop containers that you take back now that you get a nickel on, it would automatically double it to ten cents.”

She says the current rate of $0.05 to $0.20 depending on the container, might have been a little confusing for people who don’t know what the differences are.

There is no timeline as to if and when the change would be made, but Aujala is urging people to have a say before September 18.

She thinks the proposed changes could be reviewed in two years to see if things have improved.

“And then potentially increase it even more to get the recovery rates up,” Aujala added. “So I think that the ten cents is sort of a first step and then you know, if we are getting the rates, then maybe they’ll leave it. If it’s not having the desired impact, there’s potential to increase it even more.”

The province estimates the changes will keep millions more beverage containers out of BC’s landfills and waterways.

(Photo via Pixabay)