North America's oldest bev.cont. stewardship prog.
BC Bottle Depot Association (BCBDA)
Executive Director - Brenda Southam
Phone: (604) 619-9114
Website: http:\\www.bcbda.com
Email: bjsoutham@bcbda.com
Saskatchewan
Population
1,016,200
Redemption rate
95% (alcoholic & non-acoholic)
Beverage Sectors incl.
All except milk (they take on voluntary basis)
Deposit Level
10 & 20 cents (40 cents for glass 1L & over
Handling Fee
5 cents metal, 6 cents plastic, 7 cents glass
Return System
72 SARCAN depots
Retailer's Role
Collect environmental handling charges & deposits
Management
Exclusive franchise of SARCAN
Program Funds
Province
Distinquishing Innovation
80% of SARCAN's employees are special needs individuals
SARCAN RECYCLING
SARCAN Recycling, a division of the Saskatchewan Association of Rehabilitation Centres (SARC), was created to provide a comprehensive provincial collection, processing and marketing system to recycle most ready-to-serve beverage containers in Saskatchewan. SARC is a dynamic organization whose members provide challenge and opportunity for 2000 persons with developmental disabilities. SARC began in 1968 with 8 rehabilitation centres that wanted to coordinate sales for the survey stakes they manufactured. Since
then, SARC has grown into an organization that encompasses 36 member centres throughout Saskatchewan, which provide a variety of programs and services for persons with disabilities, from developmental activity to employment.
From its inception, SARC’s primary function has been to seek out employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. A big step took place with the creation of SARCAN Recycling in 1988. While SARC was exploring ways to increase employment, Saskatchewan residents were becoming more concerned about their environment. Due to increasing consumer pressure, the Government of Saskatchewan introduced
legislation regarding the sale of non-refillable soft-drink beverage containers in May of 1988. Since a collection and recycling system was desired, SARCAN, in partnership with Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, opened its first 30 depots. Initially, only soft drink and beer cans were recycled, with customers receiving a 5 cent refund on each container. Later, PET plastic and glass beverage were added to the system. In July of 1992 the system was expanded to include all ready-to-serve beverages provided in aluminum, bi-metal (steel), plastic and glass non-refillable containers. Today, over 70 depots are part of a comprehensive provincial collection, processing and marketing system handling in excess of 160,000,000 containers annually. Over 70 trailers transport containers from depots to high volume processing centres in Regina and Saskatoon, where large quantities of high quality salvage are shipped to market.
The 3 E”s
SARCAN Recycling is all about “The 3 E’s..... employment creation, environment protection and economic development.
Employment Creation
SARCAN employs over 250 people in Saskatchewan. Over 80% of all employees are persons with disabilities, who have the opportunity for employment at competitive wages. This enables persons to live independently and increase their self esteem.
Environment Protection
SARCAN has one of the highest container return rates in North America. Over 160,000,000 containers are collected every year, diverting 11,000 tonnes of recyclable waste from landfills annually.
Economic Development
SARCAN operates over 70 depots in over 60 Saskatchewan communities. Across the system, SARCAN returns over 20 million every year in deposit refunds to Saskatchewan residents.
The System
Containers are received at the depots, counted and deposits are refunded to the customer. Containers are partially densified and shipped by a fleet of trailers to processing centres in Regina and Saskatoon. Aluminum, metal and plastic containers are densified into bales, and glass is crushed. Salvage is shipped to markets throughout North America for conversion into new products. Recycling only occurs when beverage containers are transformed into new products. About 1600 tonnes per year of aluminum are made into new beverage cans. Every Year, approx-imately 1900 tonnes of plastic containers are recycled into polyester fabric for carpets, clothing and fibre fill for parkas and sleeping bags. Nearly 7200 tonnes of glass are recycled annually into new bottles, reflective beads for highway markings and fibre glass insulation. Over 350 tonnes per year of steel are recycled into new steel pipe and rolled steel products.
SARCAN collects and recycles all non-refillable, ready-to-serve beverage containers made from metal, plastic or glass for soft drinks, fruit juices, fruit drinks, mineral and table waters, ice tea, liquor and non-refillable beer and non-alcoholic beer. Refunds for aluminum and steel cans and plastic bottles are 10 cents for 1 - 999 ml, and 20 cents for 1 litre and over. Refunds for glass bottles are 10 cents for 1 - 300 ml, 20 cents for 301 - 999 ml, and 40 cents for 1 litre and over. The changes in deposits, which came into effect July 1, 1992, have resulted in a substantial increase in containers returned, with current return rates running at about 95%.
The Future
SARCAN, in partnership with Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, looks forward to providing additional recycling services in the future. These new services will focus on additional household packaging materials, to be dropped off at convenient, one-stop recycling facilities in local communities. With these new services, SARCAN will continue to create additional opportunities for persons with disabilities, economic development for the province of Saskatchewan, and a cleaner environment for
everyone.
By Phil Wrubleski, SARCAN
NEW BRUNSWICK REDEMPTION CENTRES
Containers which are not refillable or recyclable are not approved and distributors and retailers risk penalties if unapproved containers are sold.
When products are purchased a deposit of 10 cents is paid on all non-alcoholic beverages and a 10 cent (under 500 ml) or 20 cent (over 500 ml) deposit is paid on alcoholic beverages. When returned, a full refund of the deposit on refillables and half of the deposit for non-refillable, recyclables is given. Refunds on refillable beer bottles remains at $1 per dozen. The remaining amount not given out for the recyclables is distributed in the following way: half goes to the beverage industry to subsidize its container management system and the other half goes to the Environmental Trust Fund to promote waste reduction through environmental education and administration of the Beverage Containers Program. Returnables are taken to a “Redemption Centre”. These Government-approved, private businesses sort and store containers for collection by distributors and pay refunds to the public.
Consumers are encouraged to remove caps and sort containers to make refunds faster and easier. Some retail stores may also choose to accept recyclable and refillable containers (of the type they sell) for refund.
The retail stores must have a yellow notice posted in the store telling the hours during which the containers will be accepted and the location of the nearest Redemption Centre.
The Redemption Centre sorts, bags, and ships by truck to a number of regional facilities. Here the containers are prepared for processing and sent to one of 2 plants: Neighbourhood Recycling or Encorp Atlantic. The N.B. Liquor Corp. has contracted with Neighbourhood Recycling to process all alcoholic beverage containers. All non-alcoholic beverage containers are processed by Encorp Atlantic. Refillable
beer bottles are returned directly to the breweries.
When the Beverage Container Act first came out this did not apply to aseptic containers or dairy products.
Since then tetrapaks with a 5 cent deposit had a 70% return rate. Some of the recyling centres are already accepting newspaper, tins and glass jars.
Starting Jan 15, 1997 Newfoundland has a deposit-refund system
As of 15 January 1997, a deposit of 6 cents will be charged on all beverages except milk. The refund will be 3 cents when returned to a collection depot. Liquor will have a 20 cent deposit with a 10 cent refund.
A Mutli-Materials Stewardship Board which consists of government representatives, industry and non-profit sectors will implement the deposit refund system. It is expected that the Board will operate on a self- financing system. This Board will target all packaging waste that is currently going to landfills such as fountain drink containers and other kinds of packaging, cardboard and tires.
The Canadian Soft Drink Association (CSDA) will work with the Stewardship Board to establish a non-profit organization to handle the collection of containers throughout the province.
