Waterloo City Council voted unanimously on April 20, 2026, to officially ask the Ontario government to create a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverage containers, such as water, juice, and pop bottles. The motion, brought forward by Ward 7 Councillor Julie Wright, aims to improve local recycling rates by offering an incentive for residents to return empty containers.
Currently, Ontario and Manitoba are the only two provinces in Canada without a deposit-return system for non-alcoholic drinks. While Ontario does operate a successful deposit program for alcoholic beverages through The Beer Store—which sees an average 80% of containers returned each year—non-alcoholic container recovery remains lower. Estimates suggest only about 45% to 51% of these items are recovered through existing curbside recycling programs.
The provincial government previously considered expanding the deposit-return system but chose to cancel those plans in July 2024. At that time, the province cited concerns regarding potential costs for families and small businesses. Despite that decision, public support for the initiative remains high, with polling data indicating that 81% of Ontarians would like to see a deposit-return program expanded to include non-alcoholic beverages.
This push for change comes as Ontario moves forward with its new Blue Box program, which became fully active on January 1, 2026. This system places the responsibility on producers to meet a 75% recovery target for beverage containers. Supporters of the city motion argue that a deposit-return system would provide a more effective incentive for reaching these environmental goals.
During the same meeting, Waterloo City Council also received recognition from the Canadian Armed Forces for the city’s commitment as an employer of reservists through the With Glowing Hearts program.
