As The Beer Store gradually shutters locations across Ontario, concerns are mounting over where residents can return empty alcohol cans and bottles, a long-standing recycling ritual tied to deposit refunds.
Since 2007, The Beer Store has managed returns under the Ontario Deposit Return Program (ODRP), a system operated in partnership with the provincial government and the LCBO. The program allows consumers to reclaim deposits included in the purchase price of alcoholic beverages by returning used containers.
However, with the province’s recent liberalization of alcohol sales—now allowing convenience stores and more supermarkets to sell alcoholic beverages—the return infrastructure is undergoing a major shift.
Beginning January 1, 2026, all grocery stores larger than 4,000 square feet will be required to accept empty alcohol containers and refund deposits as part of their liquor licence conditions. As of October 31, 2024, some are already participating voluntarily. While convenience stores are exempt, they may choose to participate.
Despite the expansion, The Beer Store remains responsible for handling the logistics of collecting and processing these empty containers. The company is also tasked with bearing the costs of its Beer Container Recovery System and extending it to all participating retailers.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Finance, The Beer Store will continue overseeing the program until at least 2031. Retailers that accept empties may either follow the standard arrangement with The Beer Store or establish their own systems for collection and transport. Options include forming joint arrangements with other businesses or designating alternative return locations.
Still, the transition has not been without complications. CityNews reports that, as of late May, only 13 of 70 supermarkets located more than five kilometers from a Beer Store have opted into alcohol sales—some reportedly deterred by the logistical obligations of container returns.
An interactive map on the Government of Ontario’s website provides a directory of locations where consumers can purchase alcohol and return containers. However, the vast majority of current return sites are still Beer Store outlets.
In the Greater Toronto Area, non-Beer Store return locations remain scarce. Some of the few options include:
- Food Basics – 9600 Islington Avenue, Vaughan
- Esso Gas and Convenience Store – 2250 Highway 7 East, Pickering
- Ultramar – 5267 Aurora Road, Stouffville
- Esso – 1521 Charleston Sideroad, Caledon
- Ultramar – 311 Brock Road South, Guelph
- Carlisle Cleaners & Alterations – 278 Carlisle Road, Carlisle
- Four Leaf Clover Ltd. – 10779 Guelph Line, Campbellville
- Foodland – 209 Alma Street, Rockwood
- Lyndon General Store – 128 Lynden Road, Lynden
- Foodland – 19263 Highway 48, Mount Albert
As Ontario undergoes this transition, residents are urged to consult the province’s online tools and monitor local updates for new return sites as more retailers begin to participate in the program.
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