A great deal of hard work needs to be done to ensure the responsible introduction of more canned beverages to Prince Edward Island, says Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry George Webster.
“While we are fully committed to the introduction of new products, the difficult work that should have been done over the last number of months was simply not completed,” Minister Webster said.
Prior to the recent general election, the former government announced sweeping changes to provincial regulations that require beer and soft drinks to be sold in refillable bottles. Simultaneously, there was a commitment to set up a deposit-return system for non-refillable containers.
“Unfortunately, the work needed to implement these changes prior to the announcement was left undone,” Minister Webster said. “We need to exercise as much care and diligence as possible so that we are not dealing with unforseen problems in the future.”
To that end, Minister Webster said government will retain an external expert to make recommendations on the following matters:
• protection of the environment;
• the impact on employment;
• analysis of the various models available for managing beverage containers;
• cost implications for consumers; and
• the effect on Prince Edward Island’s waste management system.
“It is important that we take the time now to do the work that wasn’t done by the previous administration – and design a system that works for Prince Edward Island in the long term,” Minister Webster said.
“Islanders will see changes and they will see them done right.”
The current regulations requiring beer to be sold in refillable containers came into effect in 1973, and were expanded in 1984 to include carbonated, flavoured beverages such as soft drinks. The regulations are now considered less effective with the rapid growth in the number of non-carbonated drinks, such as water, juices and sports drinks, available in cans and plastic bottles.