Quebec's government announced on Monday, September 7, 2026, that it is overhauling the province's bottle deposit‑refund program in partnership with the organization Consignaction. The system, which was first introduced in 2023, has been revised after three years of operation, prompting a range of responses from consumers who use the scheme.
The original deposit‑refund scheme launched in 2023 required a small refundable charge on beverage containers, with refunds provided when the containers were returned to designated collection points. Since its introduction, the program has been managed by Consignaction under the oversight of provincial authorities.
The latest changes, disclosed in a statement released at 13:21 EDT, modify aspects of the program's operation. While the precise adjustments have not been detailed in the brief, the announcement confirms that the province and Consignaction have collaborated on the overhaul. The government emphasized that the revisions aim to improve the system's functionality after several years of use.
Public reaction to the overhaul has been mixed. Some users have welcomed the updates, expressing optimism that the changes will address issues they have encountered. Others remain cautious, indicating that they will assess the impact of the revisions on their routine of returning containers. No specific figures or percentages have been provided regarding the level of support or opposition.
The revision of Quebec's bottle deposit‑refund program follows a broader trend in Canadian provinces to adopt deposit‑refund mechanisms as a means of encouraging the return and recycling of beverage containers. Quebec's decision to adjust its system reflects ongoing efforts to refine such programs based on experience and feedback from participants.
The government and Consignaction have not set a public timetable for the implementation of the new measures, but they indicated that the revised framework will be rolled out in the coming months.