Quality Control (QC) Measures Explained
Redemption centres are paid a handling fee to accurately sort and count deposit-bearing beverage containers. Inaccurate container counts can pose a financial burden on the New Brunswick Beverage Containers Program.
Quality Control (QC) is thus a high priority for Encorp. It should also be a priority for your redemption centre.
We use a systematic sampling method to monitor the level of compliance and report on a regular basis to individual redemption centres with the necessary adjustments.
We have provisions in place to ensure that our QC measures remain accurate:
- leading inspections at the QC facilities up to four times per year (blind recounts of bags/tubs and verification of procedures);
- reviewing the QC measures periodically by an independent statistician to ensure validity;
- randomly selecting one redemption centre per year for the Accelerated Mode.
More information on our current Quality Control Model can be found in the documents below.
Quality Control (QC) Measures
Revised for April 1 2023
Last Updated: May 2023
Quality Control Q&A Webinar
Slides from webinar presentation to redemption centres concerning Quality Control on May 24, 2023
Summary - RC Questions, Comments and Concerns on Quality Control
Document presenting questions, comments and concerns expressed by RCs during the Q&A on Quality Control Webinar as well as actions that will be undertaken by Encorp to address them.
June 1, 2023
Loss Recovery Protocol: Technical Description
Prepared for Encorp Atlantic by Jacques Allard, Ph.D. – Atlantic Statistical AnalysisInc. – May 12, 2023
Questions or Concerns on your Redemption Centre’s Performance?
Angela Dow – Assistant Controller & Quality Control Officer
506.389.7328
angela.dow@encorpatl.ca
Gilles Doucette – Director of Operations
506.389.7325
gilles.doucette@encorpatl.ca
Note that redemption centre operators who wish to better understand the process can also visit (by appointment) Encorp’s third-party service providers’ facilities (Hebert’s Recycling and Rayan Investments) where bulk bags/tubs are QC-ed.
Accuracy Trend Report & Accuracy Awards
Starting in the fall of 2023, Encorp will be sending each New Brunswickredemption centre monthly confidential Accuracy Trend reports.
An example of such a report – featuring two fictitious redemption centres– one with a good accuracy trend followed by one with a more worrisome accuracy trend – is available below. The FAQs provided on pages 3 and 4 provide insights on interpreting the graphs shown in the report. The goal of this new reporting tool is to help redemption centre operators stay on top of their QC results and take action earlier.
Encorp will also start giving out Accuracy Awards twice per year, starting this fall, to redemption centres that have shown excellent accuracy trends over the past 12 months (estimated average error is between -1% and +1% and estimated relative standard deviation of the errors is less than 5%). More information on these awards will be communicated to redemption centres in the fall.
Example - Accuracy Trend Report
