Quels contenants sont consignés en ce moment au Québec ?

Ceux qui l'étaient déjà, plus deux ajouts. Depuis le 1er novembre 2023, tous les contenants d'une boisson prête-à-boire en aluminium d'au moins 100 ml et d'au plus 2 litres. Depuis le 1er mars 2025, tous les contenants d'une boisson prête-à-boire de 100 ml à 2 litres en plastique, y compris l'eau, le jus et les eaux pétillantes.

Combien vaut la consigne ?

Le montant est de 0,10 $ pour tous les contenants visés, sauf pour les contenants en verre de 500 ml et plus, dont la consigne est de 0,25 $.

Est-ce que je peux rapporter mes bouteilles de vin ?

Pas encore. Les contenants en verre et en carton, y compris les cartons multicouches et les bouteilles de vin et de spiritueux, entrent dans le système le 1er mars 2027. D'ici là, ils ne se rapportent pas à la consigne : ils suivent la collecte de ta municipalité.

Qu'est-ce qui change le 1er mars 2027 ?

La troisième étape de la réforme ajoute les contenants d'une boisson prête-à-boire de 100 ml à 2 litres en verre et en carton, y compris les cartons multicouches et les bouteilles de vin et de spiritueux. C'est l'étape qui touchera le plus de ménages, parce qu'elle vise des contenants que presque tout le monde met aujourd'hui au bac.

Comment savoir où va un objet qui n'est pas un contenant de boisson ?

Ça dépend de ta municipalité : les règles du bac ne sont pas uniformes au Québec. RECYC-QUÉBEC publie un outil, « Ça va où ? », qui indique la destination d'un grand nombre de produits selon l'endroit où tu te trouves, ainsi qu'une page consacrée à ce qui va dans le bac. C'est la réponse la plus fiable, parce qu'elle tient compte du territoire.

Dans le doute, vaut-il mieux mettre au bac ?

C'est le réflexe le plus répandu, et ce n'est pas le bon. Mettre au hasard n'améliore pas le tri : ça déplace le problème plus loin dans la chaîne. Trente secondes dans l'outil de RECYC-QUÉBEC ou sur le site de ta municipalité donnent une réponse qui, elle, est juste.

Deposit or recycling bin: what has changed in Quebec

Since 2023, Quebec's deposit-return system has been changing in stages. The trouble is that between two stages, almost nobody knows where things stand.

Here is the exact state today, and the date to remember.

The key point

Currently refundable: those that already were, plus aluminium (since 1 November 2023) and plastic (since 1 March 2025), from 100 ml to 2 litres. The deposit is $0.10, except for glass containers of 500 ml and over, at $0.25. Wine bottles and multilayer cartons only arrive on 1 March 2027.

Where things standWhat is refundable today

The reform applies in three stages. Two are behind us.

Since 1 November 2023, aluminium

The containers that were already refundable, plus all containers for a ready-to-drink beverage in aluminium of at least 100 ml and at most 2 litres.

Since 1 March 2025, plastic

All containers for a ready-to-drink beverage from 100 ml to 2 litres in plastic, including water, juice and sparkling water. This is the stage most people missed.

1 March 2027, glass and carton

Not yet in force. See below: this is the stage that will change the most habits.

The plastic water bottle, the can, the small juice bottle: all of it can be returned today.

The amountWhat it is worth

Two amounts, no more

$0.10 for all covered containers.

$0.25 for glass containers of 500 ml and over.

This is money you already paid at the checkout. Not returning a refundable container is not "gaining nothing": it is leaving a sum behind you.

Coming upWhat shifts on 1 March 2027

The third stage adds containers for a ready-to-drink beverage from 100 ml to 2 litres in glass and carton, including:

multilayer cartonsthe kind used for milk, juice and plant-based drinks;
wine bottles;
spirits bottles.

Until then, these containers cannot be returned. A wine bottle emptied today follows your municipality's collection, not the deposit system. That changes in seven months, and it will affect just about every household, it is the one stage of the three worth remembering in advance.

Everything elseThe bin: why the answer depends on your town

For anything that is not a beverage container, there is no single right answer in Quebec. Bin rules vary from one municipality to another, depending on the facilities that process the material.

That is why an article cannot give you the list. What it can do is send you to the right place:

RECYC-QUÉBEC's "Ça va où?" tool (in French), which gives the destination of a large number of products by location;
the page "What goes in the bin?" (in French);
and your own municipality's website, which has the final say.

The reflexThe doubt reflex

Faced with an uncertain object, the common move is to put it in the bin and hope it gets through.

Hoping is not sorting

Guessing does not improve sorting: it pushes the decision further down the chain, where it costs more to fix.

Thirty seconds in RECYC-QUÉBEC's tool or on your town's website gives an answer that is actually right. And that answer holds for every identical item you throw out afterwards.

And for anything still usable, the best destination is neither the deposit system nor the bin: it is someone else.

Frequently askedYour questions

Which containers are refundable in Quebec right now?

Those that already were, plus two additions. Since 1 November 2023, all containers for a ready-to-drink beverage in aluminium of at least 100 ml and at most 2 litres. Since 1 March 2025, all containers for a ready-to-drink beverage from 100 ml to 2 litres in plastic, including water, juice and sparkling water.

How much is the deposit worth?

The amount is $0.10 for all covered containers, except for glass containers of 500 ml and over, where the deposit is $0.25.

Can I return my wine bottles?

Not yet. Glass and carton containers, including multilayer cartons and wine and spirits bottles, enter the system on 1 March 2027. Until then they cannot be returned for a deposit: they follow your municipality's collection.

What changes on 1 March 2027?

The third stage of the reform adds containers for a ready-to-drink beverage from 100 ml to 2 litres in glass and carton, including multilayer cartons and wine and spirits bottles. It is the stage that will affect the most households, because it covers containers almost everyone currently puts in the bin.

How do I find out where a non-beverage item goes?

It depends on your municipality: bin rules are not uniform across Quebec. RECYC-QUÉBEC publishes a tool, "Ça va où?", which shows the destination of a large number of products based on where you are, along with a page devoted to what goes in the bin. It is the most reliable answer, because it takes the territory into account.

When in doubt, is it better to put it in the bin?

It is the most common reflex, and it is not the right one. Guessing does not improve sorting: it moves the problem further down the chain. Thirty seconds in RECYC-QUÉBEC's tool or on your municipality's website gives an answer that is actually right.

Deposit or recycling bin: what has changed