Beverage container handling fees are paid by beverage product distributors to New Brunswick’s privately-run beverage container redemption centres as compensation for receiving, paying out refunds for, sorting, and storing returned beverage containers.
Encorp Atlantic represents more than 90 non-alcoholic beverage product distributors and is responsible for processing and recycling all non-alcoholic deposit-bearing beverage containers received by redemption centres in the province. Every year, Encorp manages more than 165 million post-consumer non-alcoholic beverage containers. Handling fees for non-alcoholic beverage containers are paid directly to the redemption centres by Encorp.
In 2020, Encorp launched a powerful anti-litter campaign – Be a Recycling Hero! – which aims to get New Brunswickers to stop and think twice before littering with used beverage containers, increase used beverage container return rates in local redemption centres, as well as encourage community clean-ups of public outdoor spaces. The campaign continues with anti-litter ads every spring-summer season. Encorp’s Recycling Hero campaign has also led to the launch of various community outreach programs and initiatives such as a school recycling program, community cleanup grants, and sponsorship opportunities to facilitate the collection and recycling of beverage containers during outdoor festivals and events.
Encorp: Proud to Be a Leader in Recycling and Industry Stewardship
Encorp is committed to the long-term sustainability of the Beverage Containers Program. In 2014, it launched a research initiative to explore and test new methods of redeeming used beverage containers using case studies and best practices from other legislated programs in other provinces, the U.S. and Europe. Objectives include improving recycling rates in the province and consumer convenience, increasing redemption centre productivity levels and establishing provincial standards.