Photo © Pexels/Anna Tarazevich
Beverage container recycling has countless benefits, from increasing the supply of recycled materials to reducing waste and litter to conserving resources. But did you know that recycling also has the potential to create jobs and stimulate the economy?
Beverage containers are pivotal in a circular economy as they create a source of valuable recycled material (PET, glass, aluminum, and paper) for markets and generate value across multiple sectors. Whether Ontario’s curbside recycling system or the Alberta and Saskatchewan depot system, beverage container recycling has proven its social, environmental, and economic worth in Canada.
Beverage container recycling creates jobs in four main areas: collection and administration, transportation, sorting and bailing, and processing. The process begins by collecting materials from residential areas through curbside programs, drop-off sites, and stewardship management systems. Collected recyclables are transported to processing facilities, sorted and baled based on their type and quality. Finally, secondary facilities process the materials, such as plastic reclaimers, glass beneficiation plants, and aluminum recycling facilities, before being shipped to end markets. Each of these activities contributes to job creation and economic growth.
In addition to the recycling process, these activities stimulate indirect and induced jobs. Indirect jobs come from the sector’s demand for goods and services, such as equipment manufacturing and facility maintenance. Meanwhile, increased consumer spending by recycling facility workers results in additional economic activity, which induces job creation in other industries.
The residential curbside recycling system in Ontario facilitates the recovery of non-alcoholic beverage containers, creating more than 7,000 direct full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs and more than 5,000 indirect and induced jobs, totalling over 12,500 FTE. Despite the relatively low recovery rate and the increased cost of transitioning to full extended producer responsibility (EPR), the system benefits from the volume of beverages consumed in Canada’s most populated province.
In Alberta, recycling is facilitated through a deposit-return system (DRS) administered by the Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation. With a recovery rate of over 82 per cent, the province is a model for the economic merits of beverage container recycling. Approximately 17 FTE direct jobs are created per 1,000 tonnes of beverage containers recovered from Alberta’s DRS program.
When considering absolute employment numbers, beverage container recycling generates more jobs than any other waste type, accounting for 30 per cent of all jobs (direct, indirect, and induced) associated with the province’s recycling programs.
Saskatchewan is another excellent example of this in action, with the prairie province using recycling as a force for progressive employment. Contracted by the Government of Saskatchewan, SARCAN manages the recycling of beverage containers and other materials. In 2021, over 900 employees at SARCAN diverted more than 47 million pounds of material, showcasing the incredible job potential of these innovative programs. Today, there are 73 depots in Saskatchewan employing people of all abilities, making SARCAN one of the largest affirmative employers in Canada.
As we look toward a more sustainable future, investing in and expanding recycling initiatives like DRS will be crucial for both environmental stewardship and economic prosperity in Canada. By continuing to support these programs, we can build a greener economy that benefits everyone.
To learn more about the beverage industry’s commitment to sustainability, visit madetoberemade.ca
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CBA is the trusted and leading voice for Canada’s sustainable, collaborative, responsible, and competitive non-alcoholic beverage sector.