Update on accepting bottle returns

This summer, the Ministry of Environment sent a notice to liquor stores notifying retailers that: “beginning the week of August 10, 2020 it is expected that acceptance of empty beverage containers for refund will resume for those retail locations that may have suspended this service as a result of COVID-19.”

Download a copy of the notice here.

The requirement for retailers to accept returns can be found in Schedule 1, Section 6(3) of the Recycling Regulation: “a person may return for refund to a retailer not more than 24 containers per day that are of the same beverage container subcategory and brand that the retailer sells.”

Protocols for retailers resuming recycling activity can be found on the WorkSafeBC website under “Retail-based recycling, including beverage containers.”

Information regarding the safe handling empty beverage containers can be found on the BCCDC website under “Should we accept bottles and cans for recycling?”