The best solution for glass recuperation : CONSIGNMENT!

by Benoît Bleau, translation Sheila Lord  (April 2015)

In Quebec there are two types of consignment : private and public. Private consignment has existed for 200 years and covers multiple refill containers (CRM for Contenants à Remplissages Multiples) used for beer, i.e. brown bottles. This system guarantees the reuse of these containers for up to 15 times before they are in turn 100% recycled. This is far from being the most ecological system. Public consignment, however, has been in operation since 1984 and covers single refill containers (CRU for Contenants à Remplissage Unique) used for beer and soft drinks. This is less ecological because containers cannot be reused, it is effective because 100% of the materials it collects are recyclable. In addition, the recycling of containers avoids the energy, transportation and transformation of raw materials needed in the manufacture of new bottles or cans. With consignment a better price can be obtained for the materials compared with recycling: for glass between $60 and $100 per ton vs. $-12; for aluminum, $1240 per ton vs. $778; for PET $413 per ton vs $324 (Recyc Québec, 2012). It is thus doubly advantageous to adopt consignment.

As this system works well, the very first need is to enlarge all glass collecting containers so that this material no longer goes into the recycling and thus contamination is avoided. But now consignment itself is threatened with abolition. The abolition of public consignment would bring with it an increase of 40,000 tons of greenhouse gases, which is the equivalent of 7326 new cars on the roads every year; it would also bring a reduction in the rate of recycling of all materials of which 3000 tons is aluminum and 3000 tons PET; and it would also cause an increase in municipal pick-up costs and an increase in municipal expendi- ture for the disposal of materials.

So we must let our municipal and provincial elected officials know that we want, not the abolition of consignment but its preservation and improvement so that it includes all glass containers. Below is a link to responses given to the most frequent arguments against consignment. Everybody should familiarize themselves with these! www.fcqged.org

If you know of any event or situation which threatens our environment, or if you wish to get involved in our community, contact us at the following address: benoit.bleau@gmail.com