New fee placed on milk containers in B.C., recycle depots to refund difference

It’s set to be more expensive to buy milk in B.C., as of Tuesday, after the province brought in a new fee on all “ready-to-drink” milk and milk alternative products.

The province is imposing a 10-cent charge on the products as part of the CleanBC Plastic Action Plan.

In return, containers returned to Return-It recycling depots will be eligible for a 10-cent deposit refund.

Starting February 1st, you’ll be charged a 10¢ deposit on milk & plant-based beverage containers and get a 10¢ refund when you return them.
Learn more – https://t.co/lyojrh0eOd pic.twitter.com/o1MJLjkgcs

— Return-It (@Return_It) January 18, 2022

Those who aren’t able to get to a depot, or who don’t want to, can still recycle the containers through the blue box recycling bin program according to Return-it.

“Ready-to-drink” containers are defined as dairy, oat, soy and almond beverages, with a few exceptions. Infant formula, meal replacements, coffee cream, whipping cream, buttermilk, drinkable yogurt, and kefir are not included in the refund program.

However, the province urges people to continue recycling other containers despite ineligibility in the new plan.

The fine print also includes a warning that those containers bought prior to Feb. 1 won’t be eligible for the refund.

Additionally, unwashed containers will also not be accepted for recycling.

“Shifting milk containers to the deposit-refund system will capture the millions of additional plastic and fibre-based containers that were otherwise being thrown out, such as those from restaurants, schools and offices that did not have access to the residential recycling system,” the Ministry of Environment wrote in a statement released Jan. 21.

Related articles:

• Vancouver plastic bag ban, single-use fees start New Year’s Day

• Vancouver single-use fees criticized after people with meal vouchers charged

• Living in B.C. in 2022? Here’s what’s going to cost more – or less this year

The step of the province’s Plastic Action Plan comes just after Vancouver city council announced they would be reviewing the recently introduced single use fee.

Although there is a collective understanding that plastics and single-use items are harmful to the environment, implementing an action plan has been challenging.

“#FREE” McDonald’s breakfast meal vouchers handed out to #homeless clients of the Fairview @CityofVancouver / @OddVancouver warming center don’t cover CoV’s (stoopid) cup fee. So clients have to pay the 25-cents. Some don’t even have a quarter! Thank you #Vancouver! pic.twitter.com/7oP9Rnigen

— Stanley Q Woodvine (@sqwabb) January 3, 2022

After a photo of a receipt on social media showing people using meal vouchers were still charged, many people voiced their thoughts on how people experiencing homelessness and mobility issues are disproportionately affected by the added fees.