Yukon's Deposit-Refund System for Beverage Containers

The Yukon's Beverage Container Regulations are based on consumers paying a deposit when they purchase beverages from retailers and receiving a refund when they return the empty containers to a registered recycling depot in the territory. The following table shows the variety of deposits and refunds.

Beverage wholesalers send your deposit to the Recycling Fund which then pays out contributions to registered recycling centres to help them pay for their collection, processing and shipping costs. The Recycling Fund is administered separately from the government's general revenues and is also used to promote container returns, improve recycling facilities at community depots and pay part-time wages for depot staff.

Dairy beverages such as milk are exempt from the regulations.

This deposit-refund system was started in 1992. There are about 25 registered recycling depots around the territory, in almost all Yukon communities, operated by non-profit groups, liquor retailers and private operators.

Over 15 million containers were collected and processed during 2000-2001 and the overall return rate for containers was 84.9 per cent. Most of the recycled containers are sold to recycling and re-use markets in southern Canada, while glass is re-used locally in road construction projects.

An advisory committee representing beverage wholesalers and retailers, recycling depots, municipalities and First Nations advises the government on the design of the recycling program.

If you have comments or questions about the Yukon Beverage Container Program, please contact the Environmental Programs Branch.