Encorp Pacific (commonly known as Return-It) is a

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

which manages the recycling of beverage containers and electronic devices in

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include ...

. Encorp Pacific was initially founded in 1994 to collect non-alcoholic beverage containers with refundable deposits. In 2001, Encorp Pacific signed a deal with the Liquor Distribution Branch to also collect all alcoholic beverage containers. In 2006, the organization also began collecting milk containers (which are now collected by

Recycle BC Recycle BC (previously known as Multi-Material B.C.) is a not-for-profit organization which manages residential packaging and paper recycling in British Columbia. The not-for-profit was created in 2014, after a 2011 law by the British Columbia Mi ...

) and electronic devices for recycling. In February 2019, a pilot program began, allowing the collection of textile waste at some locations.

Recycling depots

170 return locations operate throughout the province under the Return-It name, although most locations are privately owned. Many of these depots also have partnership with other product stewardship groups, such as Product Care and

Call2Recycle Call2Recycle is a rechargeable battery and cellphone collection program. History The program launched in the U.S. in 1996 (1997 in Canada) as ''Charge Up to Recycle!'' to collect and recycle Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries. In 2001, the progra ...

to collect additional recyclable materials. In December 2013, the first Express kiosk was opened inside of a Return-It depot in Burnaby. The system allows users to register online, bag their refundables in clear plastic bags and print labels for the bags at the depot. The bottles are then counted by depot staff and money is placed into the user's account. The first stand-alone Return-It Express location opened in

Yaletown Yaletown is an area of Downtown Vancouver, Canada, bordered by False Creek and Robson and Homer Streets. Formerly a heavy industrial area dominated by warehouses and rail yards, since the 1986 World's Fair it has been transformed into one of the ...

. In October 2019, Return-It placed a converted shipping container in

Tofino Tofino ( ) is a town of approximately 2,516 residents on the west coast of Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The District of Tofino is located at the western terminus of Highway 4 on the tip of the Esowista Penins ...

as the first "Express & Go" location, designed for small communities without a depot.

Beverage container deposits

Encorp Pacific collects refundable deposits and container recycling fees on most ready-to-drink beverage containers in British Columbia, regardless of material type. Beer container deposits are managed directly by their distributor; however, they are still accepted at Return-It depots. Milk containers have never been deposit-bearing in the province. As of November 1, 2019, the deposit on non-alcoholic beverage containers 1L or smaller was doubled from 5¢ to 10¢.

Return rates

As of 2019, Encorp Pacific had a government-mandated recovery rate of 75%, expressed in the Environmental Management Act.

Recycling bins

160 street-side bins are located in the City of

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. Th ...

for refundables, as of 2013. Encorp Pacific has also placed bins for refundables inside of large venues across British Columbia.

References

{{reflist Non-profit organizations based in British Columbia Companies based in Burnaby 1994 establishments in British Columbia Recycling in Canada