New Brunswick

Encorp testing 'express service' at redemption centres

The company in charge of beverage container redemption in New Brunswick is introducing an "express service" that will allow people using special bags for their containers to jump the line and get a quick cash payout.

Customers with beverage containers in special bags will jump line and get quick cash payout

The company in charge of beverage container redemption in New Brunswick is introducing an "express service" that will allow people using special bags for their containers to jump the line and get a quick cash payout.

Customers will special bags will be allowed to jump the line in an express service project being tested at four redemption centres in New Brunswick. (Submitted)
The express service is being implemented at four redemption centres in the Fredericton and Shediac regions.

Up to 3,000 participants at each of the four centres will receive special express service bags that are designed to hold 40 cans or other containers to equal a $2 cash payment.

Because of the pre-determined cash value, customers who place their containers in the special bags will be given priority service when they drop the fulls bags off at one of the four participating centres. They will be "skipping the line" for a quick cash payout on the spot, said Encorp Atlantic Inc. in a news release.

"The convenience of not having to wait in line by being able to accept a predetermined cash refund should help speed up the experience of dropping off recyclables for customers as well as maximize workflow in the redemption centres," said Encorp Atlantic general manager Pierre Landry. "There will be much less time wasted sorting and counting in front of the customers.

"We think that implementing such a concept only helps to make recycling easier for the public. The easier and more convenient it is for customers to recycle, the more containers they will bring and the more frequently they will visit redemption centres."

The four participating redemption centres are:

  • Northside Redemption Centre, 213 MacFarlane Street, Fredericton.
  • Southside Redemption Centre, 70 Timothy Avenue, Hanwell
  • Oromocto Redemption Centre, 16 Lewis Street, Oromocto
  • Shediac Redeem Centre, 610 Main Street, Shediac.

Through the pilot project, Encorp hopes to adapt and perfect the express service before making it available to other redemption centres in the province in the near future.

Encorp reception centres handle more than 160 million non-alcoholic beverage containers annually. Since 1992, more than 3.2 billion containers have been recycled through Encorp.