Encorp Pacific

Non-profit organization in British Columbia

Encorp Pacific (Canada)
Company typeNon-profit organization
Founded1994; 30 years ago (1994)
HeadquartersBurnaby
Number of locations
163 (2021)
Area served
British Columbia
Key people
Cindy Coutts (President & CEO)
Revenue$111,683,202 (2021)
Websitewww.return-it.ca

Encorp Pacific (Canada) is a federally incorporated, not-for-profit, product stewardship corporation with beverage container management as its core business. Their mandate is to develop, manage and improve systems to recover used packaging and end-of-life products from consumers and ensure that they are properly recycled and not land-filled or incinerated. This model is commonly referred to as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) or Industry Product Stewardship (IPS).[1]

Recycling depots

The Return-It™ network consists of independently owned and operated Return-It depot collection facilities that have collection agreements with Encorp, as well as corporate Return-It Express Plus™ locations and Express & GO™ unstaffed stations.

The Express system provides a level of consumer convenience by removing the need for customers to sort their containers and wait in line for their refund. Customers tag their bags, drop them off and are on their way within minutes. Express & GO locations are unstaffed solar-powered drop-off stations with extended hours and contactless service. Express Plus locations, Encorp's flagship, offer a convenient and cashless way to recycle used beverage containers and other small household items. There are a total of 163 depots, 78 in-depot Express locations, 9 Express & GO stations and 2 Express Plus locations in BC.[2]

Beverage container deposits

Starting October 12, 2020, consumers are charged the unified deposit of 10¢ for all beverage containers covered by the Return-It system, and refunded 10¢ upon return.[3]

As of February 1, 2022, milk and plant-based beverage containers are also part of the Return-It deposit system.[4]

Return rates

Encorp Pacific has a government-mandated recovery rate of 75%, expressed in the Environmental Management Act.[5]

Year Containers sold Containers recovered Return rate
2008[6] 1,379,887,232 1,064,064,122 77.1%
2009[7] 1,353,133,342 1,072,598,298 79.3%
2010[8] 1,277,506,339 1,027,105,322 80.4%
2011[9] 1,237,182,406 987,186,525 79.8%
2012[10] 1,237,108,765 973,327,078 78.7%
2013[11] 1,214,144,300 972,397,241 80.1%
2014[12] 1,224,579,061 968,583,632 79.1%
2015[13] 1,266,027,839 999,290,454 78.9%
2016[14] 1,282,922,473 1,000,749,811 78.0%
2017[15] 1,349,149,437 1,023,306,039 75.8%
2018[16] 1,350,852,403 1,045,466,471 77.4%
2019[17] 1,348,921,360 1,053,684,532 78.1%
2020[18] 1,362,935,045 1,038,180,271 76.2%
2021[19] 1,470,642,100 1,116,121,423 75.9%

References

  1. ^ "Who is Encorp? | Encorp Pacific (Canada)". www.return-it.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  2. ^ "Section 1. Executive Summary | 2021 Encorp Annual Report". ar.return-it.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  3. ^ "Deposit Changes as of Oct. 1st, 2020 | Encorp Pacific (Canada)". www.return-it.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  4. ^ "Milk and plant-based beverages are part of the deposit system! | Encorp Pacific (Canada)". www.return-it.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  5. ^ "Environmental Management Act: Recycling Regulation", Government of British Columbia, 7 October 2004, archived from the original on 17 June 2017, retrieved 31 December 2017
  6. ^ 2008 Annual Report
  7. ^ 2009 Annual Report
  8. ^ 2010 Annual Report
  9. ^ 2011 Annual Report
  10. ^ 2012 Annual Report
  11. ^ 2013 Annual Report
  12. ^ 2014 Annual Report
  13. ^ 2015 Annual Report
  14. ^ 2016 Annual Report
  15. ^ 2017 Annual Report
  16. ^ 2018 Annual Report
  17. ^ "2019 Encorp Annual Report". ar.return-it.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  18. ^ "2020 Encorp Annual Report". ar.return-it.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
  19. ^ "2021 Encorp Annual Report". ar.return-it.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-10.