It is a privilege to step into the role of President & CEO at Encorp Atlantic and to lead the vital environmental efforts we carry out on behalf of the beverage industry. Our shared responsibility—to ensure that post-consumer beverage containers are properly recovered, reused, and recycled—has never been more important.
As of this past April, the Beverage Containers Program (BCP) has officially entered its second year under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model. The first year marked a significant turning point, laying the foundation for a more streamlined, industry-led system that prioritizes environmental performance, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
I would like to begin by thanking Pierre Landry for his many years of leadership and vision. His commitment to modernizing the BCP laid the groundwork for the progress we’ve made together and the work still to come. I’m honoured to carry that legacy forward.
The positive impact of last year’s introduction of full refunds on beverage container deposits is clearly being felt. Increased returns from consumers helped us achieve a 76.6% used beverage containers (UBCs) recovery rate for all of 2024, and our most recent stats show that our 12-month (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025) rolling rate now stands at an impressive 80.4%. These higher volumes are certainly encouraging, but we recognize there’s still work ahead to push recovery rates even higher and deliver stronger environmental results.
We’re committed to building on this momentum with all our stakeholders. Our key priorities include making the Program more accessible and convenient for consumers, ensuring cost-effective delivery, and expanding public education and outreach. A major focus will be on growing special initiatives that boost UBC recovery rates while also engaging and educating new and future recyclers. This includes reaching out to newcomers to the province and expanding the reach of our Recycling Heroes in School program, which is on track to hit an exciting milestone: 100 schools enrolled. By connecting with more New Brunswickers — especially younger generations — we’re helping foster lifelong recycling habits and strengthening a culture of sustainability across the province.
