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As of February 1st, 2022 there is a 10-cent deposit charged on “ready-to-drink” milk and plant-based beverages like oat, soy, and almond. The 10-cent deposit will be refunded when the empty containers are returned for recycling at Return-It sites across the province. Containers can be flattened as long as the label is still readable and accessible by depot staff. Please remember to rinse your containers to avoid mold and odours. The recycling regulation has some exceptions including infant formula, meal replacements, concentrates, whipping cream, coffee creamers, and drinkable yogurt. Containers exempt from the regulation don’t incur a deposit and therefore will not get a refund. However, these containers can still be recycled in most home recycling programs.
Consumers can still place their milk and plant-based beverage containers into their residential home (blue box) recycling bin, but they will not be eligible for the 10-cent deposit refund paid at the time of purchase.
For more information, please visit the Return-It website. Visit RCBC’s Recyclepedia for drop-off options or contact the RCBC Recycling Hotline for all options available in your community.
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