Grocery Retailers
FAQ
- Am I able to deduct bags returned to retail?
- Do I need to report reusable bags I provide to customers at the point of sale?
- Do I need to report transportation packaging?
- How do I report PPP associated with product returns?
- How do I use the steward list?
- I am a CBCRA member in Manitoba, where do I report beverage containers?
- I purchase non-branded bags from a wholesaler and provide them to consumers at point of sale. I am not putting my brand name on the bags but the packaging manufacturer’s name is on the bottom of the bag. Who is obligated to report this?
- I have a licensing agreement where another company manufactures my private label products. Who is obligated?
- I sell seasonal items. How do I report that material?
- Why are stewards required to update the Methodology section on an annual basis?
Common Products
- Baking Products and Spices
- Bottled / Jarred Food
- Bread
- Candy
- Canned Food
- Coffee and Tea
- Dairy Beverages
- Dairy Products (Non-Beverage)
- Dry Goods
- Eggs
- Frozen Food
- Fruit and Vegetable Packaging
- Household Cleaning Products
- Ice Cream
- Meat Packaging
- Non-Dairy Beverage Packaging
- Service Packaging
- Snacks
- Syrups
- Tags and Stickers
Reminders
- Please ensure that you include in your steward report all packaging and paper products related to your private label brands.
- Beverage containers registered with Encorp Pacific or SARCAN do not need to be reported to Recycle BC or MMSW; however, secondary packaging such as film plastic wrap, corrugated cardboard or boxboard associated with these containers must be reported to the applicable PPP program as only the containers and enclosures are part of the deposit program.
- Ensure all HR related documents and business cards are included in your report.
- Please check the resin codes on your plastic packaging as different plastics are reported under different material categories.
- Stewards may be able to use the Component Threshold Rule for packaging that is made up of two or more different material types when certain components of the package constitute a small proportion of the entire package. Please see Part Two Section 2.4.1 of the Guidebook for more details on how to use the Component Threshold Rule.
- Please include all secondary packaging that goes to the household such as the plastic wrap around a multi-pack of tissue or water bottles.
- For Recycle BC stewards, if you provide ready-to-serve and/or takeout meals to consumers, you must include in your report: straws, utensils, stir-sticks, take-out containers, cups and bowls as these materials are designated as single use products under the BC Recycling Regulation. Please only include items for which you are the obligated producer. Learn more.
Reporting Beverage Milk and Milk Substitutes
The deposit programs in BC and SK do not cover packaging of beverage concentrates that require the consumer to mix with water prior to consumption. These containers should be reported to the applicable PPP program in each province.
Recycle BC
- The containers for the following beverages are on deposit and hsould not be included in your steward report: milk, milk substitutes such as rice milk, almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk (or any other milk substitute that comes from grains, nuts or vegetables), flavoured milk (where milk appears as one of the first three ingredients in the ingredient list).
- Please note: the following beverages are not on deposit and must be included in your steward report: ready-to-drink infant formulas, dietary supplements and meal replacements, condensed or evaporated milk, whipping cream, coffee cream or other coffee additives, buttermilk, drinkable yogurt or modified mild-derived products such as kefir.
MMSW
- Containers from rice milk, soya milk and almond milk are not required to be reported to MMSW as they are included in the deposit program
- Packaging from all ready-to-serve non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages in multi-laminated foil pouches should be reported to MMSW as these containers are not included in the deposit program
- All milk beverages (regardless of where milk falls on the ingredient list) are on deposit and should not be reported to MMSW
- Ready-to-drink infant formula, dietary supplements & meal replacement beverages are not on deposit and should be reported to MMSW
MMSM
If you are a member of the Canadian Beverage Container Recycling Association (CBCRA), report all non-alcoholic beverage containers and milk substitutes (soy milk, almond milk, rice milk etc.) in the CBCRA portion of the WeRecycle portal. Non-CBCRA members report non-alcoholic beverage containers to MMSM. Milk beverages (regardless of where milk falls on the ingredient list) are not on deposit in MB and should be reported to MMSM.
More Information
You may supply other products that are not included in these sector tips. Please refer to the sectors listed below if you supply any of these additional products and require assistance in identifying the material category for reporting the packaging or paper products associated with these products.
- Apparel and Accessories
- Confectionery
- Dairy Products, Milk and Milk Substitute Beverages
- Furniture, Appliances and Electronics
- Horticulture and Agriculture
- Newspaper and Magazine Publishers
- Non-Dairy Beverages
- Restaurants, Quick Service restaurants and Theatres
- Packaged Foods
- Packaged Perishable Foods (Produce, Eggs and Meat)
- Personal Care and Household Products
- Pet Products
- Small Household Goods (Bedding, Bath and Kitchen)
- Stationery, Paper Products and Office Supplies
- Toys