Manitoba

Details

In Manitoba, beverage producers have been given the option of setting up a deposit-return system or of paying a 2 cent per container levy.  All except beer producers have chosen the latter option.

Beer System (Deposit System)

In Manitoba, beer is sold only in deposit-bearing containers and is thus exempt from the product stewardship levy. The Manitoba Liquor Commission administers all liquor and beer sales in the province. Packaged beer is retailed primarily through cold beer outlets attached to hotels but beer is also sold through the government owned liquor stores. The empty containers are, however, returned only to the cold beer / hotel outlets for a full deposit redemption. A Brewers' association manages deliveries of products to all retailers and recovery of the empty containers from the beer outlets. Retailers are paid a handling fee to manage the collection of beer containers they receive.

There is currently no significant beer brewing occurring in inside Manitoba, packaged beer is imported mostly from other provinces.

Non-Beer System (Non-deposit system)

The Manitoba Product Stewardship Plan (MPSP) was implemented in January 1995 and is funded by a 2 cent per beverage container Waste Reduction and Prevention (WRAP) levy.  The per container levy is applied to all non-deposit, non-dairy beverage containers sold in the province.  The levy supports recycling and waste reduction efforts in the province, thus, producers fund 80% of municipal recycling costs.  The program is administered by the Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation (MPSC), a statutory corporation.  The 'WRAP levy' is charged to all beverage producers and remitted to the Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation (MPSC).  The MPSC is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder-run organization mandated to establish waste reduction programs for designated materials.

The WRAP is collected pursuant to the Waste Reduction and Prevention Act.1 The fee is set pursuant to the Multi-Material Stewardship (Interim Measures) Regulation;2 see especially sections 27-32.

Municipalities participate in the program voluntarily. To be eligible for funding, they are required to collect newspapers, flyers, aluminum, glass and steel containers and plastic soft drink bottles. Curbside programs collect beverage containers and arrange for the processing of the scrap materials. Some municipalities, such as Winnipeg, keep all scrap revenues while others negotiate a split with the waste transporter. These revenues, along with the monies received from the MPSP are used to offset the costs of curbside recycling.

The WRAP levy paid on non-deposit beverage containers generated approximately $8.4 million per year for recycling initiatives. The levy is included in the price paid by a retailer to a licensed manufacturer or distributor. Many retailers include the 2 cents in their price to consumers to offset the additional cost.