Beer Store Empties Returns

Since May 2024, the Beer Store has closed one hundred and ten retail locations across the province. The original agreement stated that grocery stores were obligated to take back empty alcohol containers. But now, after numerous grocery chains lobbied against the policy, they are no longer responsible for doing so. The result? People in rural communities have to drive out of their way to return their empties if they want the deposit payout.But, increasingly what's happening is those empties are more likely to end up in a recycling bin at the landfill instead. The closure of Beer Store locations across Ontario has severely hampered the Ontario Deposit Return Program. Ontarians lost an estimated $60 million in unredeemed deposits as rural residents face longer travel times to reclaim their $0.10 or $0.20 fees.The Beer Store in Haliburton closed earlier this year and the only remaining official Beer Store retail outlet is in Minden. Grocery stores like both Foodland and Todd's Independent do not accept empties.CanoeFM spoke to a number of local residents and cottagers who are having to find alternative solutions to deal with their empties.