Quebec group wants bottle deposit increased, expanded to water bottles

The agency that advises the government on reducing waste wants Quebec to at least doubledeposit fees on beverage containers.

Deposits on bottles and cans haven't gone up since the system was introduced 30 years ago.

Recyc-Qubec is recommending the deposit on cans go up from 5 to 10 cents.

It also wants the province to put a deposit on plastic water bottles, tomato juice cans and other containers that currently don't have one.

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QuebecEnvironment Minister David Heurtelsays while the government is looking into modernizing the recycling system, nothing has been decided yet.

Karel Mnard,executive director of environmentalgroup Front commun qubcois pour une gestion cologique des dchets, says the increased fees would keep more trash out of the landfills.

"The best way to recover the bottles and the cans with water and sodas in it is a deposit. And five cents is not enough," he said.

"It was enough 30 years ago. But now it should be at least 10 cents."

So far wine and liquor bottles are not included in the proposal.

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