P.E.I. considers bottle deposit change [Video]

Prince Edward Island is looking to triple its refund for used bottles and double the deposit in an effort to keep more garbage out of ditches.

According to Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action Steven Myers, 78 per cent of the bottles and cans in the provincial refund program are returned; however, he’d like to see that number increase.

“I’d like to see it all go back because that would mean it’s not in ditches, or in places that it shouldn’t be,” said Myers. “I think that as population grows, that 20 per cent is a growing number of cans and bottles that we can’t account for.”

The increase would see the deposit paid on bottles and cans doubled from 10 to 20 cents each and the refund tripled from five to 15 cents per bottle or can.

P.E.I. is the second province in the region to look at the change. New Brunswick is doubling its refund in April. …