Wine and liquor containers (glass, aluminum, plastic, and Tetra Paks) purchased from the LCBO and other beverage alcohol retailers, can be returned to your local The Beer Store. You will receive a 10¢ or 20¢ deposit per bottle, depending on the size of the bottle.

This program is another way to increase the amount of bottles being recycled. By returning bottles to The Beer Store you free up space in your Blue Box which means you’ll have more room to recycle other materials around your home.

Currently about 68% of wine and liquor bottles are diverted away from the landfill and are recycled through the Blue Box. The Ontario government expects that by the fifth year of the new deposit return program, an additional 80 million bottles will not end up in landfill.

For more information about the program or for a list of your nearest The Beer Store locations, please visit www.bagitback.ca . 

Please note: Halton Region still collects and recycles LCBO containers placed in the Blue Box.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the program work?

A deposit will be applied to all wine, beer and spirits containers purchased at the LCBO, and Ontario wineries and distilleries. These deposits will be refunded when you return the containers to The Beer Store.

What types of alcohol container are included in the program?

• glass bottles
• plastic bottles (PET 1) [look on the bottom of the bottle for a 1 inside a recycling triangle]
• Tetra Pak
• Bag-in-box

What types of alcohol container are not included in the program?

• containers 100mL or less (e.g., 50mL minis)
• containers purchased at duty free stores, U-Vint and U-Brew

These containers will still go in the Blue Box.

What about containers purchased in other provinces, at Duty Free stores, or in the United States?

These containers are not included in this program and should continue to be placed in your Blue Box.
 

Should I rinse my bottles before bringing them back to The Beer Store?

Yes.

Do I have to remove the paper labels from glass or plastic bottles?

No.

What do I do with wine and champagne bottle corks?
Halton residents can recycle their natural wine and champagne corks, free of charge, by bringing them to the Container Station located at the Halton Waste Management Site. The proceeds from the recyclable natural corks go directly to the Girl Guides. Bring back a bunch at a time.

Synthetic (plastic) corks cannot be recycled in the Blue Box.

There is no guarantee natural corks returned to The Beer Store will be recycled.

How much is the deposit?

• alcohol containers 631mL or over: 20¢ deposit
• alcohol containers 630mL or under: 10¢ deposit
• alcohol containers 100mL or under: exempt; should be placed in the Blue Box
• aluminum and steel cans over 1L: 20¢ deposit
• aluminum and steel cans under 1L: 10¢ deposit

How do I know if a container has a deposit refund? Does it have a sticker or is it on the label?

Containers will not have a label or sticker indicating it can be returned for deposit. The majority of containers sold at the LCBO will automatically have a deposit on them.

Can I opt out of paying the deposit at the LCBO?

No.

Do I have to return my LCBO containers to The Beer Store?

No. You can still put wine and liquor containers in the Blue Box, but you will lose the deposit (10¢ or 20¢ per container).

Is there a special box or bag to collect liquor containers in?

The LCBO will have “Bag-It-Back” bags available for collecting liquor containers at your home. You do not have to use this bag; any box or plastic bag can be used too. In fact, you don’t need to use a bag or box at all. It is your choice.

What will the Ontario government do with deposits that aren't redeemed?

Revenue generated by deposits not claimed by customers will be used to help finance the program.

Does this mean Halton hasn’t been recycling wine and liquor bottles put in the Blue Box?

No. Halton Region has always recycled wine and liquor containers put in the Blue Box. Glass bottles are primarily recycled into housing insulation, while Tetra Pak containers are recycled into paper products.

Why are LCBO containers being returned to The Beer Store?

Because The Beer Store already has the infrastructure in place to collect and transfer bottles for recycling.

What do I do with other glass jars and bottles?

Glass jars and bottles should still be placed in the Blue Box for recycling. They will not be accepted at The Beer Store.

The Beer Store cleans and reuses beer bottles it collects. Will the same thing happen to wine and liquor containers that are returned?

No. Wine and liquor containers returned will be recycled into new products, like new bottles, housing insulation, textiles or paper products.

What are the benefits of this program?

Returning your wine, beer and spirit containers will:

• free up space in Blue Boxes
• reduce the breaking and mixing of clear and coloured glass inside the Blue Box—broken and mixed glass has less of a market for recycling
• increase the recycling rate—an additional 80 million containers can be recycled over the next five years through this program. This statistic is from the LCBO.

Where can I get more information about this program?

www.bagitback.ca  or The Beer Store Call Centre at 1-888-948-2337

How do I find my local The Beer Store?

www.bagitback.ca  or The Beer Store Call Centre at 1-888-948-2337 or check in your Yellow Pages.

top of page