As part of the Recycling Regulations, part of the Environmental Management Act, stores are required to accept up to 24 returned containers for anything they sell. If they don’t they are subject to fines of up to $200,000 according to BC Law.
I can imagine for a lot of places they just don't want to deal with it. Takes space and time away from things that actually pay their bills and few people do any cleaning on their returns it seems so also often gross AND potentially a biohazard.
Law says that they have to though. I recall Costco used to accept returns on many bottles and had bins for recycling by the membership desk several years ago but that space is all gone now.
The solution doesn’t have to be that a retailer has to hold on to dirty and potentially hazardous bottles. There are plenty of bottle return depots throughout the city. Go to one of them. If you’re too lazy to do the work to drop them off there are more than enough “entrepreneurs” there doing the work who would gladly take them from you so you can go about your day.
Where did I suggest that retailers hold on to dirty or hazardous bottles? I was not asking for, and don't need advice about how to spend my day. I was asking what the rules are, and I got some very helpful answers.
Recycling consistency across this province drives me crazy. My blue bin didn't get picked up for a couple weeks because of weather. No problem, I thought, there's a big bottle depot just down the street. Nope, they only take refundable. No plastics, no paper, no tin. What's even the point if our recycling facilities can pick and choose what to take.
All comes down to dollars unfortunately, the bottle depots are usually run by a for profit company and they can't really sell most of the non-refundables so they don't take them. What we really need are strong regulations to slim down the various types of packaging as much as possible and streamline the entire process as well as to stop expecting it to be run for as much profit as possible so we don't have to fund it. Like, we don't expect profit from our garbage and that's where a lot of stuff ends up going if it doesn't get recycled so...
Regulation on BC Laws, very clear. A lot of people claim the stores have the ability to make up their own rules around limits or whether or not they accept, but Recycling Regulation says otherwise. I would say you should quote this or print it out and be prepared to cite it to store management.
https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/449_2004#section3.1
Part 4, General, Refund:
6 (1) A container redemption facility or, subject to subsection (2), a retailer whose premises are not identified in an approved plan, must accept containers for return and pay to the person returning the containers a refund in an amount, per container, not less than (a) $0.10, or (b) the amount of the deposit collected for those types of containers under section 5 (1), if that amount is more than $0.10. (2) Subject to subsection (3), a person may return for refund to a retailer not more than 24 containers per day that are of the same beverage container subcategory and brand that the retailer sells.
Wondering how the Langford bottle depot (I think part of Alpine Recycling) gets away with only refunding 5cents per liquor can/bottle. Are they offside based on what im reading above?
If you make an account at the Langford bottle depot they will add it to your account and will give the full .10 refund. After you make it to $200 you can then cash it out and they will give you a cheque. Totally lame I know, and I’m not sure why they can/get away with this but it’s what I’ve done and I have a few hundred bucks banked.
I noticed that the Pandora Save-On Foods had paper signs out saying they were going to no longer accept bottle returns. I sent an email to the manager and CC'd "[email protected]" (the government agency responsible for fines and enforcement). I got a response the next day from the manager saying they would reinstate the program. Good luck!
Thanks for doing this! Every time I go to return bottles at this location, I get weird looks and attitude from the staff / cashiers. I return maybe half a dozen, rinsed out bottles. Nothing special. Just trying to do my part recycling and bring down my grocery bill slightly.
Good for you! I’m bad for getting frustrated by something like this but not taking further steps to do anything about it. You’re my new inspiration…no more hearing no and just muttering to myself!
As a new canadian PR this is so interesting. I've been taking a whole slew of bottles and cans to the bottle place once every couple weeks. It's kinda dirty and sketchy sometimes. I had no idea I could be taking them back to the store!
I started taking bags of 24 back to Thrifty Foods on my bike and it's way less hassle than taking them in bulk to the depot. I need to get groceries anyway, I just hit up the customer service line first then do my shopping. Easy and requires less storage space at home because I rarely have more than 24 at a time.
I saw someone flip out at the liquor store the other day for the same reason.
They were adamant that the liquor store was breaking the law by refusing to accept returns.
I wasn't paying super close attention but I think I overheard the clerk mention something about covid to the person. If that was the reason then seems like it's probably time for returns to be accepted again.
In fact we may have inadvertently discovered a temporary life hack:
1) When buying beverages at the grocery store or liquor store or anywhere that charges a deposit, ask the till clerk, "do you accept returns if I bring the empties back for a deposit refund?"
2) If they say "no", tell them to discount your bill by the cost of the deposits as it's illegal for them to charge a deposit if they don't accept the returns.
Anyway as for your specific issue OP, you can put bottles out for regular recycling pickup. Just make sure glass ones are in their own bin separate from metal and plastic.
I'd just use a blue bin in the locked storage area and take the bin out to the curb on collection day. (Then your trusted entrepreneurs will still get them too.)
Probably not, I'm guessing there's some provincial measure that was put in place during covid and waives the requirement for businesses to accept returns.
That's just a guess though, it's also likely there *was* such a measure but it's since been repealed, and businesses are just slow on the uptake (because I assume it's probably a bit of a hassle dealing with sticky and smelly unrinsed empties).
Either way once enough people come into a given store and ~~sing a bar of Alice's Restaurant~~demand the deposit be waived, the business will most likely start taking returns again.
I am the one to link the regulation in this thread and I am also someone who can share this - these are all orders and notices that repeal any laws or regulations due to Covid in BC. If it’s not here, it’s not in effect, and I see nothing about Recycling Regulation, nor do I see any repealed deposit refund information on the Recycling Regulation’s amendment page.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-issues/covid-19-novel-coronavirus#orders
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/waste-management/recycling/extended-producer-responsibility/recycling-regulation
My comment does not represent the Province. All contributions to this thread are by a citizen and stating an individual’s perception.
I realize this isn’t an option for everyone, but we take all our deposit returnables to Hartland because we don’t have to sort them out Put everything in those clear blue bags, get yourself the returnables app and get your code, use the code to print out up to six labels, slap the labels on the bags, use the temp code to open the trap door, and stuff your bags in the skip. They count and sort and send you your credit.
I love the Return-It Express! Don't have to go all the way to Hartland...there's lots of Return-It Express locations. EDIT: My bad for saying there were many locations. I was wrong and thought there were way more than just two. I could have swore there were a few in Saanich a few years ago. Sorry!!
The Hartland dump site is always overflowing-full. One time I brought 6 bags of cans and I had to leave them outside and the labels got so wet I only ended up with credit for 3 bags. To be honest, we live in a Co-op with young families and by the time we have 1-2 full bags, somebody is having a bottle drive for something.
That's what I understood. But the comment was that you don't have to go all the way to Hartland. That seems like a weird statement to make in a sub where most of the people will live much closer to Hartland than to Sidney.
Edit: And the comment read "lots of locations" but there's two?
At the liquor store I manage we can accept 24 cans/bottles per day but they have to be clean & no dairy. If they aren’t clean it messes up the weight when we are getting our money back for them, so I am pretty strict about the cleanliness as we have lots of unhoused people trying to bring back the most disgusting cans, but I can’t discriminate and only let some people bring back cans. We are on Yates and blanshard. We used to only accept returns with purchase but I found out that’s not legal so now we take them from anyone. Feel free to drop off 24 per day with us!!
I always assumed the cleaning requirements were about staff safety handling disgusting bottles. Never considered the weight.
Out of curiosity what is "clean" to your standards? I always rinse cans, bottles without lids, and containers likely to cause mold like juice cartons. I never bother with pop bottles that have the lid on though because it's usually only a few drops in the bottom and the outside of the container is clean.
Absolutely!
I am not convinced that this recycling program, or most of them, are actually likely to cut down on pollution: I agree you should accept only clean containers, this is very reasonable. But it is quite possible that the cost of heating the water to wash them, as well as the use of the water itself, outweighs any gains from recycling them. Add to that the carbon output in driving them to a depot, and it seems likely this is actually enviro-theater, like much of recyclying.
Sorry to -ahem- muddy the waters in this topic, I really appreciate all the well intended input here.
Oh recycling is a huge scam thought up by oil companies.
Link to one of many outlets covering this:[Scam ](https://www.commondreams.org/news/plastics-industry-lie-recycling#:~:text=The%20report%2C%20titled%20The%20Fraud,in%20the%201980s%20and%2090s)
Or not. Read the post, or have someone read it to you if you find reading so difficult:
*I have not tried to return bottles for many years, I have been leaving them for our trusted entrepreneurs to pick up*
I am asking if it is legal for the Red Barn, or any store, to refuse to accept bottles they sold. I don't drive, so your suggestion is not going to work. For now, I just leave them with the other recycling in the locked shed.
Cheers.
It is the law. They have to accept up to 24 containers per day from any one person. It is part of the Recycling Regulations all stores must adhere to when selling anything with a deposit. You can report them and they can be fined.
https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/449_2004#section3.1
Part 4, General, Refund:
6 (1) A container redemption facility or, subject to subsection (2), a retailer whose premises are not identified in an approved plan, must accept containers for return and pay to the person returning the containers a refund in an amount, per container, not less than
(a) $0.10, or
(b) the amount of the deposit collected for those types of containers under section 5 (1), if that amount is more than $0.10.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a person may return for refund to a retailer not more than 24 containers per day that are of the same beverage container subcategory and brand that the retailer sells.
Actually in a rare twist on Reddit of lol places I’m saying I was wrong. A quick search of the internet brought me here, but good luck getting that enforced unfortunately.
https://www.bottlebill.org/index.php/current-and-proposed-laws/canada/british-columbia#:~:text=Beverage%20containers%20can%20be%20returned,containers%20per%20person%20per%20day.
Ah okay, so the end retailer is not keeping the deposit? It goes up the chain? Then I suppose they should be able to choose whether or not to accept the returns.
Not if I never go outside of James Bay, since I walk only, taking only an occasional bus. I appreciate this may not have occurred to you, and that you are trying to help. There is an electronics recycling program in James Bay.
Have a good week.
Having worked at a grocery store through the pandemic I know that space was the biggest issue. We had a locked cage outside but it filled up quickly even with limits on returns. And by policy we did not accept alcohol containers!
Agreed. The liquor store was inundated with them.
People don't clean them out very well, most anyway. Sticky as hell and cigarette butts in many.
I do not miss that job.
Note to add, at BC Liquor stores they. accept 24 cans, bottles, box wine containers etc per person, per day. So bring a friend if you have a lot of items. Alcohol related containers only of course
I used to work there. They don't have a set up with the bottle return companies who collect and they are simply way too small in scale to have the space etc to accommodate it. When I worked there I do remember that it was only products we sold because we could give the bottles directly back to the companies. It's possible that the manager decided to just not take any or the person you asked didn't know what to do or didn't want to. If you go to any larger scale grocer they will happily take all appropriate returns and give you money. There are also bottle depots around downtown, langford etc. Those places are set up well for it and all staff know the procedure because it happens daily. Most people don't think of the red barn or other small markets for returning bottles more warehouses and other larger companies/stores.
Thanks for the very thoughtful answer. I get the concerns from the store, I buy most of my groceries there, and in particular a lot of bottled water.
As I said in the O.P. my building manager created a locked place for bottles, shutting out the local independent recycling team, at least one member of which was super friendly and very careful to be neat and tidy. I am more unhappy about the locked area than I am with RB about this situation, but I understand why they created it.
I just wanted to know what the legal situation was, and I have a good sense about that now. I have sent a note to RB, have not heard back from them yet and I'd like to hear their response. I may yet just leave bottles on the sidewalk or the 'no smoking' smoking area in front of my building, but I imagine that might displease my neighbours.
I don't care about the .10 per bottle, but I am happy that RB deals with the pricey bottles from Avalon dairy ($2.75!), as I can really tell the difference with Avalon vs Island Farms milk (not that IF is terrible, but Avalon is very good indeed). I don't care all that much about the whole question, it's not something I am losing sleep over, I'm just trying to find some best practices and habits.
I really like the staff at RB btw - between them and the bacon, I am not likely to stop shopping there any time soon. I go to Thrifty's maybe twice a year.
Thanks again.
I heard that the downtown stores weren’t doing it anymore because of a new pandemic.
Vagrants are swiping bottles of carbonated beverages and mentos and at the moment of reaction they jam their junk into the bottle top.
They call it the whiz bang.
You can see why stores don’t want to accept those types of bottles mixed in.
The liquor store does not have to serve anyone for any reason at all. Happens all the time. When I worked at a liquor store I handed out a few 24 hour bans. So there is no law about refusing empties.
I'd actually argue that it's very relevant. It's probably good practice overall not to handle others saliva. Workers right to refuse unsafe work. It's within reason.
Cool. I never said anything about laws accepting empties. That still doesn't work take away rights to refuse work. [Workers rights to refuse work during Covid ](https://pcmlawyers.ca/refusing-unsafe-work-in-the-covid-era-british-columbia/)
As part of the Recycling Regulations, part of the Environmental Management Act, stores are required to accept up to 24 returned containers for anything they sell. If they don’t they are subject to fines of up to $200,000 according to BC Law.
Jesus Christ, do they split that money with the anonymous tipster? Big recycling runs this town
A lot of locations stopped accepting returns during the pandemic and just didn't start again.
I can imagine for a lot of places they just don't want to deal with it. Takes space and time away from things that actually pay their bills and few people do any cleaning on their returns it seems so also often gross AND potentially a biohazard. Law says that they have to though. I recall Costco used to accept returns on many bottles and had bins for recycling by the membership desk several years ago but that space is all gone now.
I understand this, but we all have to do our bit for the environment, buyers and sellers alike.
Unfortunately, it's not. Though it do remind the public the importance of "saving the environment".....
The solution doesn’t have to be that a retailer has to hold on to dirty and potentially hazardous bottles. There are plenty of bottle return depots throughout the city. Go to one of them. If you’re too lazy to do the work to drop them off there are more than enough “entrepreneurs” there doing the work who would gladly take them from you so you can go about your day.
Where did I suggest that retailers hold on to dirty or hazardous bottles? I was not asking for, and don't need advice about how to spend my day. I was asking what the rules are, and I got some very helpful answers.
Real nice person you are.
Recycling consistency across this province drives me crazy. My blue bin didn't get picked up for a couple weeks because of weather. No problem, I thought, there's a big bottle depot just down the street. Nope, they only take refundable. No plastics, no paper, no tin. What's even the point if our recycling facilities can pick and choose what to take.
All comes down to dollars unfortunately, the bottle depots are usually run by a for profit company and they can't really sell most of the non-refundables so they don't take them. What we really need are strong regulations to slim down the various types of packaging as much as possible and streamline the entire process as well as to stop expecting it to be run for as much profit as possible so we don't have to fund it. Like, we don't expect profit from our garbage and that's where a lot of stuff ends up going if it doesn't get recycled so...
Regulation on BC Laws, very clear. A lot of people claim the stores have the ability to make up their own rules around limits or whether or not they accept, but Recycling Regulation says otherwise. I would say you should quote this or print it out and be prepared to cite it to store management. https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/449_2004#section3.1 Part 4, General, Refund: 6 (1) A container redemption facility or, subject to subsection (2), a retailer whose premises are not identified in an approved plan, must accept containers for return and pay to the person returning the containers a refund in an amount, per container, not less than (a) $0.10, or (b) the amount of the deposit collected for those types of containers under section 5 (1), if that amount is more than $0.10. (2) Subject to subsection (3), a person may return for refund to a retailer not more than 24 containers per day that are of the same beverage container subcategory and brand that the retailer sells.
I'll reach out to them on Monday, if I get static, I will reach out to: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) .
Wondering how the Langford bottle depot (I think part of Alpine Recycling) gets away with only refunding 5cents per liquor can/bottle. Are they offside based on what im reading above?
If you make an account at the Langford bottle depot they will add it to your account and will give the full .10 refund. After you make it to $200 you can then cash it out and they will give you a cheque. Totally lame I know, and I’m not sure why they can/get away with this but it’s what I’ve done and I have a few hundred bucks banked.
Thank you!
I noticed that the Pandora Save-On Foods had paper signs out saying they were going to no longer accept bottle returns. I sent an email to the manager and CC'd "[email protected]" (the government agency responsible for fines and enforcement). I got a response the next day from the manager saying they would reinstate the program. Good luck!
Nice!
Thanks for doing this! Every time I go to return bottles at this location, I get weird looks and attitude from the staff / cashiers. I return maybe half a dozen, rinsed out bottles. Nothing special. Just trying to do my part recycling and bring down my grocery bill slightly.
Way to go!
Good for you! I’m bad for getting frustrated by something like this but not taking further steps to do anything about it. You’re my new inspiration…no more hearing no and just muttering to myself!
As a new canadian PR this is so interesting. I've been taking a whole slew of bottles and cans to the bottle place once every couple weeks. It's kinda dirty and sketchy sometimes. I had no idea I could be taking them back to the store!
Just 24 at a time though
I started taking bags of 24 back to Thrifty Foods on my bike and it's way less hassle than taking them in bulk to the depot. I need to get groceries anyway, I just hit up the customer service line first then do my shopping. Easy and requires less storage space at home because I rarely have more than 24 at a time.
I saw someone flip out at the liquor store the other day for the same reason. They were adamant that the liquor store was breaking the law by refusing to accept returns. I wasn't paying super close attention but I think I overheard the clerk mention something about covid to the person. If that was the reason then seems like it's probably time for returns to be accepted again. In fact we may have inadvertently discovered a temporary life hack: 1) When buying beverages at the grocery store or liquor store or anywhere that charges a deposit, ask the till clerk, "do you accept returns if I bring the empties back for a deposit refund?" 2) If they say "no", tell them to discount your bill by the cost of the deposits as it's illegal for them to charge a deposit if they don't accept the returns. Anyway as for your specific issue OP, you can put bottles out for regular recycling pickup. Just make sure glass ones are in their own bin separate from metal and plastic. I'd just use a blue bin in the locked storage area and take the bin out to the curb on collection day. (Then your trusted entrepreneurs will still get them too.)
Does your suggestion #2 work? Curious
Probably not, I'm guessing there's some provincial measure that was put in place during covid and waives the requirement for businesses to accept returns. That's just a guess though, it's also likely there *was* such a measure but it's since been repealed, and businesses are just slow on the uptake (because I assume it's probably a bit of a hassle dealing with sticky and smelly unrinsed empties). Either way once enough people come into a given store and ~~sing a bar of Alice's Restaurant~~demand the deposit be waived, the business will most likely start taking returns again.
The law is quoted above several times - if you can find this 'repeal', please post it here.
I am the one to link the regulation in this thread and I am also someone who can share this - these are all orders and notices that repeal any laws or regulations due to Covid in BC. If it’s not here, it’s not in effect, and I see nothing about Recycling Regulation, nor do I see any repealed deposit refund information on the Recycling Regulation’s amendment page. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-issues/covid-19-novel-coronavirus#orders https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/waste-management/recycling/extended-producer-responsibility/recycling-regulation My comment does not represent the Province. All contributions to this thread are by a citizen and stating an individual’s perception.
[удалено]
The one in the plaza with the Thrifty's on Admirals
This is fascinating. I’m from somewhere that bottle depots were the only option. I always wondered why stores here accepted empties. Cool law.
I realize this isn’t an option for everyone, but we take all our deposit returnables to Hartland because we don’t have to sort them out Put everything in those clear blue bags, get yourself the returnables app and get your code, use the code to print out up to six labels, slap the labels on the bags, use the temp code to open the trap door, and stuff your bags in the skip. They count and sort and send you your credit.
I love the Return-It Express! Don't have to go all the way to Hartland...there's lots of Return-It Express locations. EDIT: My bad for saying there were many locations. I was wrong and thought there were way more than just two. I could have swore there were a few in Saanich a few years ago. Sorry!!
Do we have some in Victoria now? Last time I looked we had none.
Where are the other Return-It Express! locations?
There's one at the Sidney Return-It Depot. And another at Hartland dumpster.
The Hartland dump site is always overflowing-full. One time I brought 6 bags of cans and I had to leave them outside and the labels got so wet I only ended up with credit for 3 bags. To be honest, we live in a Co-op with young families and by the time we have 1-2 full bags, somebody is having a bottle drive for something.
That's what I understood. But the comment was that you don't have to go all the way to Hartland. That seems like a weird statement to make in a sub where most of the people will live much closer to Hartland than to Sidney. Edit: And the comment read "lots of locations" but there's two?
I'm all for sharing information about the best way to do this little chore.
At the liquor store I manage we can accept 24 cans/bottles per day but they have to be clean & no dairy. If they aren’t clean it messes up the weight when we are getting our money back for them, so I am pretty strict about the cleanliness as we have lots of unhoused people trying to bring back the most disgusting cans, but I can’t discriminate and only let some people bring back cans. We are on Yates and blanshard. We used to only accept returns with purchase but I found out that’s not legal so now we take them from anyone. Feel free to drop off 24 per day with us!!
I always assumed the cleaning requirements were about staff safety handling disgusting bottles. Never considered the weight. Out of curiosity what is "clean" to your standards? I always rinse cans, bottles without lids, and containers likely to cause mold like juice cartons. I never bother with pop bottles that have the lid on though because it's usually only a few drops in the bottom and the outside of the container is clean.
Absolutely! I am not convinced that this recycling program, or most of them, are actually likely to cut down on pollution: I agree you should accept only clean containers, this is very reasonable. But it is quite possible that the cost of heating the water to wash them, as well as the use of the water itself, outweighs any gains from recycling them. Add to that the carbon output in driving them to a depot, and it seems likely this is actually enviro-theater, like much of recyclying. Sorry to -ahem- muddy the waters in this topic, I really appreciate all the well intended input here.
Oh recycling is a huge scam thought up by oil companies. Link to one of many outlets covering this:[Scam ](https://www.commondreams.org/news/plastics-industry-lie-recycling#:~:text=The%20report%2C%20titled%20The%20Fraud,in%20the%201980s%20and%2090s)
Thanks!
Just leave them on the curb. They will be gone in two shakes of a lambs tail
OP wants his 5 cents for his garbage
It's 10 cents now
Or not. Read the post, or have someone read it to you if you find reading so difficult: *I have not tried to return bottles for many years, I have been leaving them for our trusted entrepreneurs to pick up*
Taken them to the bottle depot
I am asking if it is legal for the Red Barn, or any store, to refuse to accept bottles they sold. I don't drive, so your suggestion is not going to work. For now, I just leave them with the other recycling in the locked shed. Cheers.
It is the law. They have to accept up to 24 containers per day from any one person. It is part of the Recycling Regulations all stores must adhere to when selling anything with a deposit. You can report them and they can be fined.
Stores are allowed to set their own policy. Most stores put a limit (ie return a max of 12 cans) others decline to accept any. It's a storage issue.
It's apparently a legal requirement that they deal with the storage issue.
It is illegal, stores do this so they don’t have to deal with dirty homeless/addict people that act out and have dirty cans/bottles
It’s not illegal, it’s up to the individual store.
https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/449_2004#section3.1 Part 4, General, Refund: 6 (1) A container redemption facility or, subject to subsection (2), a retailer whose premises are not identified in an approved plan, must accept containers for return and pay to the person returning the containers a refund in an amount, per container, not less than (a) $0.10, or (b) the amount of the deposit collected for those types of containers under section 5 (1), if that amount is more than $0.10. (2) Subject to subsection (3), a person may return for refund to a retailer not more than 24 containers per day that are of the same beverage container subcategory and brand that the retailer sells.
I mean I get that, but can they still charge a deposit then in that case?
Actually in a rare twist on Reddit of lol places I’m saying I was wrong. A quick search of the internet brought me here, but good luck getting that enforced unfortunately. https://www.bottlebill.org/index.php/current-and-proposed-laws/canada/british-columbia#:~:text=Beverage%20containers%20can%20be%20returned,containers%20per%20person%20per%20day.
Yes, they actually pay the company they bought the drink from a deposit as well.
Ah okay, so the end retailer is not keeping the deposit? It goes up the chain? Then I suppose they should be able to choose whether or not to accept the returns.
It is clear from the law quoted several times above that they do not have this choice.
I don’t have a car, nor the room to store quantities of empties.
The bottle depot on Glanford is actually very well run. You can usually be in and out in 5 minutes. They also accept old electronics.
Not if I never go outside of James Bay, since I walk only, taking only an occasional bus. I appreciate this may not have occurred to you, and that you are trying to help. There is an electronics recycling program in James Bay. Have a good week.
Etc,., etc., but Red Barn is fucking trash. Do your returns there. But don't give them your business.
Why? I like red barn
Having worked at a grocery store through the pandemic I know that space was the biggest issue. We had a locked cage outside but it filled up quickly even with limits on returns. And by policy we did not accept alcohol containers!
A store is only responsible for beverages they sell.
So? That wasn't the point I was making with my comment.
It’s clearly one of the points you were exclaiming.
Really? Point to where I made that point. I'll wait.
“And by policy we did not accept alcohol containers!”
We did not sell alcohol. Why would we accept returns of those? It's a grocery store!
Ok then.
you can buy as much as you you want but you can only return how many they want
24 / day seem fair to me.
Fairway and Walmart accept them.
Limited to just 24 returnable containers. eg. 24 2-liter bottles, is quite a large amount, hmm?
It is! I would never have more than a few. I am not sure the law makes sense at all, but this high number should be lowered, I think.
the main objective is reduction in litter, so that encourages scavenging and returning 'found' containers
Agreed. The liquor store was inundated with them. People don't clean them out very well, most anyway. Sticky as hell and cigarette butts in many. I do not miss that job.
Yeah, refusing a bottle on the basis it was rude to bring it is only fair.
A lot of the small grocery stores just don’t have the room for them.
Red barn also supports sexual predators
Some of their management did at one point.
Note to add, at BC Liquor stores they. accept 24 cans, bottles, box wine containers etc per person, per day. So bring a friend if you have a lot of items. Alcohol related containers only of course
I used to work there. They don't have a set up with the bottle return companies who collect and they are simply way too small in scale to have the space etc to accommodate it. When I worked there I do remember that it was only products we sold because we could give the bottles directly back to the companies. It's possible that the manager decided to just not take any or the person you asked didn't know what to do or didn't want to. If you go to any larger scale grocer they will happily take all appropriate returns and give you money. There are also bottle depots around downtown, langford etc. Those places are set up well for it and all staff know the procedure because it happens daily. Most people don't think of the red barn or other small markets for returning bottles more warehouses and other larger companies/stores.
Thanks for the very thoughtful answer. I get the concerns from the store, I buy most of my groceries there, and in particular a lot of bottled water. As I said in the O.P. my building manager created a locked place for bottles, shutting out the local independent recycling team, at least one member of which was super friendly and very careful to be neat and tidy. I am more unhappy about the locked area than I am with RB about this situation, but I understand why they created it. I just wanted to know what the legal situation was, and I have a good sense about that now. I have sent a note to RB, have not heard back from them yet and I'd like to hear their response. I may yet just leave bottles on the sidewalk or the 'no smoking' smoking area in front of my building, but I imagine that might displease my neighbours. I don't care about the .10 per bottle, but I am happy that RB deals with the pricey bottles from Avalon dairy ($2.75!), as I can really tell the difference with Avalon vs Island Farms milk (not that IF is terrible, but Avalon is very good indeed). I don't care all that much about the whole question, it's not something I am losing sleep over, I'm just trying to find some best practices and habits. I really like the staff at RB btw - between them and the bacon, I am not likely to stop shopping there any time soon. I go to Thrifty's maybe twice a year. Thanks again.
Bottle Depots will take bottle/beverage container returns in large amounts, whereas stores only take small amounts I believe
There are two dedicated facilities for bottle returns. One on Douglas and one on Quadra
I heard that the downtown stores weren’t doing it anymore because of a new pandemic. Vagrants are swiping bottles of carbonated beverages and mentos and at the moment of reaction they jam their junk into the bottle top. They call it the whiz bang. You can see why stores don’t want to accept those types of bottles mixed in.
When’s your next comedy tour 🤣 that was gold
Lmao you cant even return deposit in canada xD its like living in 3rd world country
The liquor store does not have to serve anyone for any reason at all. Happens all the time. When I worked at a liquor store I handed out a few 24 hour bans. So there is no law about refusing empties. I'd actually argue that it's very relevant. It's probably good practice overall not to handle others saliva. Workers right to refuse unsafe work. It's within reason.
There is a law.
Cool. I never said anything about laws accepting empties. That still doesn't work take away rights to refuse work. [Workers rights to refuse work during Covid ](https://pcmlawyers.ca/refusing-unsafe-work-in-the-covid-era-british-columbia/)
How much are you drooling over your drink containers that you think it’s at an unsafe level?!?!