Maximizing Canada’s beverage container recycling potential: The case for a best-in-class deposit return system

In 1970, British Columbia made history as the first jurisdiction in the world to implement a mandatory deposit return system (DRS) for single-use beverage containers. Fast forward to today and nearly every province and territory in Canada has implemented a DRS, a collection system designed to incentivize recycling by adding a refundable deposit to the price of beverage containers, which can be redeemed by consumers when they return empty containers to designated collection points.

Beyond Canada, the adoption of DRS is gaining momentum as governments worldwide recognize their effectiveness in boosting recycling rates and addressing global challenges like plastic pollution and climate change. As of January 2025, nearly 357 million people across 57 jurisdictions have access to deposit systems. This number is expected to grow significantly, with projections estimating that by the end of 2027, approximately 641 million people will be covered by DRS in 70 jurisdictions (Figure 1).

In the coming years, new programs are set to launch in several countries and regions, including Poland (October 2025), Türkiye (2025), the Australian state of Tasmania (2025), the Czech Republic (2026), Singapore (2026), Spain (2026), Portugal (2026) and the four nations of the U.K. (2027).

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