1. The bottle and can deposit
The bottle deposit (consigne) is a refundable deposit system on certain beverage containers in Quebec.
When you buy a beer, soft drink or other beverage in a consigned bottle or can, you pay an additional amount — the deposit — which is refunded when you return the empty container.
2025 deposit amounts (Consigne Plus): - 10 cents for small containers under 1 litre - 25 cents for large containers 1 litre and over
Now consigned: beer bottles and cans, soft drink bottles, water bottles, juice bottles, and many other beverages in glass, plastic or aluminium containers.
The consigne logo indicates a container is eligible — look for this symbol on the packaging. Return containers to a grocery store or designated deposit point.
2. The recycling bin — what goes in
In Quebec, residential recycling is generally done in a blue bin or wheeled bin depending on your municipality.
Generally accepted recyclables: - Paper and cardboard — newspapers, flattened cardboard boxes, clean wrapping paper, cardboard packaging - Metal — aluminium cans, steel food cans, pots and pans without plastic parts - Plastic — milk bottles, shampoo bottles, yogurt containers, plastic bags (in dedicated grocery store bins) - Glass — glass bottles and jars, rinsed
What does NOT go in the recycling bin: straws, plastic utensils, chip bags, paper coffee cups, diapers, cigarette butts, plastic flower pots, styrofoam.
3. Composting and organic materials
Composting organic materials is available in many Quebec cities and is being rolled out province-wide.
In Montréal, compost is collected in a third bin (usually brown or an organics bin), with weekly or bi-weekly collection depending on the borough.
What goes in the compost bin: - Food scraps and meal leftovers (including meat, fish and dairy) - Eggshells - Tea bags and coffee grounds with paper filters - Crumpled newspaper, paper towels and tissues - Grass and tree leaves
If your borough doesn't yet have organics collection, you can bring materials to an écocentre or create your own composter at home or in a community garden.
4. Écocentres — for special materials
Écocentres are drop-off centres for materials your recycling bin doesn't accept.
At Montréal and other cities' écocentres, you can drop off: - Electronics — old phones, computers, TVs - Batteries and cells - Paints and solvents - Expired medications - Motor oils - Compact fluorescent bulbs - Large appliances
Écocentres are generally free for municipal residents and open weekdays and weekends. Find your nearest écocentre on your city's website.
5. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Garage sales, thrift stores and Kijiji in Quebec — giving objects a second life.
- Balcony gardening in Quebec — composting at home.
- Immigrant family budget — saving on your daily expenses.
6. Official sources
For recycling rules and écocentres in Montréal: montreal.ca. For bottle deposits in Quebec: consignequebec.ca. For waste sorting rules in your city: your municipality's website.
Author's Note: on July 1st, the Quebec tradition of leaving furniture and bulky objects on the sidewalk means you often find items in perfect condition — lamps, bookshelves, chairs — left freely. It's spontaneous recycling and entirely legal. Look before letting anything pass by.
