Ontario already has a deposit-return system for alcoholic beverage containers. We believe it’s time to expand that system to include non-alcoholic beverages as well!

A deposit-return system gives people an incentive to bring empty beverage containers back for collection, where they can be properly sorted and recycled or refilled. It’s a simple approach that has been successfully used across Canada for decades.

The problem

Ontario is one of only two provinces in Canada without a deposit-return system for non-alcoholic beverage containers.

Instead, containers like water bottles, pop cans and juice containers are primarily collected through the Blue Box. While curbside recycling has an important role to play, beverage containers are recycled at lower rates than in provinces with comprehensive deposit-return systems.

Every year, an estimated 1.7 billion plastic drink bottles in Ontario end up in landfills, incinerators or as litter.

And the problem isn’t limited to what happens at home. Think about the beverages we drink while we’re out at a movie, concert, sporting event, restaurant, mall or park. A deposit-return system would give people a way to return those containers too.

When valuable materials like plastic and aluminum end up in the garbage or as litter, we lose the opportunity to recover those materials and use them again.

The solution: deposit return

Deposit-return systems are already working in Ontario for alcoholic beverages.

When you buy a beverage, you pay a small deposit. When you return the empty container to a participating return location, you get your deposit back. The containers can then be collected separately and sent for recycling or, where appropriate, refilling.

This approach helps create a strong incentive to return containers instead of throwing them away.

It also means beverage containers can be collected in a cleaner, more consistent stream, making it easier to recover the materials and turn them into new products or containers.

Most other provinces have recognized the benefits of deposit return for non-alcoholic beverages. We believe Ontario should do the same.

Why it matters in Burlington

Burlington is a beautiful community surrounded by natural spaces, including Lake Ontario, our waterfront, parks and trails and once plastic and aluminum containers become litter, they can be difficult to recover and may eventually break down into smaller pieces that remain in the environment.

A comprehensive deposit-return system would help keep more beverage containers in the recycling and reuse system and out of our streets, parks, waterways and landfills.

It would also make it easier for people to do the right thing with beverage containers wherever they are drinking them, not just when they’re at home.

What YOU can do

We’re asking Burlington residents to speak up and tell the Ontario government that it’s time to expand deposit return to include non-alcoholic beverage containers.

1. Find your MPP

Use the Burlington MPP lookup tool to find your provincial representative.

2. Call your MPP

Phone calls are one of the most direct ways to make your voice heard.

Let your MPP know that you support expanding Ontario’s deposit-return system to include non-alcoholic beverage containers.

Sample phone call:

Hello, my name is ___ and I’m a Burlington resident calling to ask the Ontario government to expand its deposit-return system to include non-alcoholic beverage containers.

Ontario already has a deposit-return system for alcoholic beverages, and I believe we should expand this successful approach to containers like water bottles, pop cans and juice containers.

I’m concerned about beverage containers ending up as litter or in landfills when they could be recovered and recycled or refilled.

Will you support expanding deposit return to include non-alcoholic beverage containers in Ontario?

Thank them for their time, and you’re done!

3. Write or email your MPP

A personal letter or email is another great way to make your voice heard.

You can use the points above to help guide your message. Consider starting with something personal, such as:

“I am a resident of Burlington, and I care about this issue because…”

Then tell your MPP why you support an expanded deposit-return system and ask them to support action by the Ontario government.

4. Sign the petition

At a minimum, we encourage you to sign the petition calling on the Ontario government to expand deposit return to include non-alcoholic beverage containers.

When signing, you may have the option to customize the message sent to your MPP. We encourage you to personalize it and let your representative know why this issue matters to you.

Sign the Petition Here

Every voice helps show the Ontario government that Burlington residents want a better way to keep beverage containers out of the garbage and out of our environment.