Yukon to review beverage container recycling fees

Yukon's deposit fee on some beverage containers might soon cost an extra five cents, as the territorial government is considering changing its recycling policy.

Jennifer Dagg, with Environment Yukon, says recyclers have been asking for a change as the recycling fee has not increased in 22 years. 

"The current fees are just not enough to cover transporting these items out of the territory," she said. "As well, we are a growing population. We consume more items now and we just can't cover the cost of it with the system that was set up in 1992."

Danny Lewis works at Raven Recycling in Whitehorse. It is one of the groups that would benefit from the new charges. He says shipping is one of the recycler's largest expenses.

"Things like electricity and heat and other things they continue to go up," he said. "Unfortunately the fees that we're collecting and actually receiving for handling and processing haven't gone up since they began," he said.

The government is also considering expanding the recycling fee to include new types of containers, such as milk cartons and changing fees on a variety of products such as tires and electronics. 

The government says it will consult with Yukoners before making changes.  It is asking for public comments until Nov. 21.