Ontario’s very successful deposit-return program for alcohol containers will fail if the provincial government doesn’t step in quickly to save it. 

Since last October, large grocery stores that sell alcohol and are more than five kilometres from a Beer Store were supposed to start accepting returns of alcohol empties. But so far, only four grocery stores are actually accepting them. 

In his rush to boost alcohol sales in grocery and convenience stores, Premier Doug Ford is setting up Ontario’s current deposit-return system to fail. 

Now, with Beer Store locations closing across Ontario, many communities don’t have a place to return their empties. Without adequate deposit-return systems, millions of beverage bottles will end up burned, in landfills, or discarded directly in nature. 

Tell Premier Ford and Minister Bethlenfalvy, who oversees the existing Ontario Deposit Return Program, not to let large grocery retailers off the hook. They must start accepting our empties as soon as possible or this important program will fail!

 

Your letter will be sent to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, the Environment Minister Todd McCarthy, and your Member of Provincial Parliament based on your postal code.