| Name | The Newfoundland and Labrador Used Beverage Container Recycling Program (colloquially known as Greenback Trash to Cash Program), under Part II: Beverage Container Control Program, Waste Management Regulations 2003. [1] |
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| Date Enacted | 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date Implemented | Implemented 1997; last updated 2003. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Containers Covered | All beverage containers 5L and under [2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beverages Not Covered |
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| Amount of Deposit |
Non-alcoholic beverages: 8¢ CAD / 5¢ CAD* *Consumers receive a partial refund of either 10¢ CAD or 5¢ CAD, depending on the type of beverage and container of each beverage. [2] |
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| Reclamation System | 55 main depots | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handling Fee | 4.45¢ CAD [3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Fees | Part of the deposit (either 3¢ or 10¢, depending on the container) is retained by distributors in order to help pay for the program. [see "Amount of Deposit" section for more details.] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unredeemed Deposits | Retained by government organization (Multi-Materials Stewardship Board) and used to offset costs. Surplus is placed in provincial trust fund. [4] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Program Success |
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Details
The Used Beverage Container Recycling Program is regulated under the provisions of the Waste Management Regulations, made under the Environmental Protection Act. On January 15, 1997, the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) - a nine member board appointed by the Minister of the Department of Environment and Labour - launched the "Greenback Trash to Cash Program," as part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Waste Management Regulations with the goal of diverting beverage containers from landfills for recycling. This is a province-wide deposit-return system for the recovery and recycling of all ready-to-serve beverage containers (excluding domestic beer, milk, infant formulas and containers larger than 5 litres).
Consumers pay a 20 cent deposit on alcoholic beverage containers (except for beer) and a 8 cent deposit on non-alcoholic beverage containers. Consumers receive a refund of 10 cents and 5 cents respectively on the return of the containers. As of January 2021, 55 "Green Depots" have been established throughout the province to collect the containers and issue refunds. Each depot is a privately run business that generates revenues through beverage containers returned to the depot. In addition, some satellite units and sub-depots have been set up in remote areas to ensure people have access to recycling facilities.
Sometime before 2000, the MMSB contracted with NewBRI (Newfoundland Beverage Recovery Inc.) to run the day-to-day operations of the deposit-return system. [8] NewBRI was a board-run, non-profit organization consisting of representatives from the beverage industry. NewBRI was responsible for setting up the Green Depots, paying refunds and handling fees to depot operators, as well as overseeing the collecting, processing, and marketing of the materials. Unredeemed deposits and scrap values accrued through the program are used to maintain its operation. As of 2021, this partnership seems to be defunct, and the MMSB oversees the general administration of Green Depots.
Footnotes
[1] Waste Management Regulations, 2003, N.L.R. 59/03, s. 12.
[2] "What's Accepted." Multi-Materials Stewardship Board, Green Depot. Last Accessed August 2, 2022.
[3] Private Correspondence with Gordon Wall, Multi-Materials Stewardship Board. September 1, 2022.
[4] "Used Beverage Container Recycling Program." Multi-Materials Stewardship Board. Last Accessed August 2, 2022.
[5] "Deposit Systems for One-Way Beverage Containers: Global Overview 2016." CM Consulting Incorporated, May 25, 2017.
[6] "Deposit Systems for One-Way Beverage Containers: Global Overview 2018." CM Consulting Incorporated, 2018.
[7] "Global Deposit Book 2020: An Overview of Deposit Systems for One-Way Beverage Containers." Reloop Inc. December 15, 2020.
[8] See Footnote 3.
[9] "Newfoundland’s Beverage Container Program." CM Consulting. Morawski, Clarissa. December 2000.
Last Updated on May 17, 2023.