Is the LCBO Environmental levy being charged on any items that are part of the current Bag it Back deposit – return system. Have any products sold charged both a deposit and an environmental levy at the same time?
RESPONSE # 207129: Search & Preparation Time 1 hr @ $30.00 = $30.00.
FOI # 207129: THE ANSWER
Q: Is the LCBO Environmental levy being charged on any items that are part of the current Bag it Back deposit – return system. "Yes all non-refillable beverage alcohol containers incur the Environmental levy. This is consistent with the pre-existing practice of non-refillable beer containers (e.g. cans) returned to the Beer Store, to which both the levy and deposit apply..
Q: Have any products sold charged both a deposit and an environmental levy at the same time? "Yes, as above. The two instruments serve different purposes: the levy to encourage the use of refillable containers and the refundable deposit to encourage returns and recycling/refilling."
(my thoughts in blue, and italics)
It was my understanding that when the environmental levy was rolled out, that it simply applied to items which did not have a deposit. I have been attempting to acquire access to the actual legislation from the Ontario Government which allows the Levy and the Deposit. There are many people who see this as overkill, and as something approaching double-taxation. In any case I believe it is inappropriate for the LCBO to include such figures in their revenues and "profits". It is certainly inappropriate that they collect in excess of ten times as much for the environmental levy as they turn over to the blue box program, claiming the difference in their record profits. They should have to deduct any statuatory levies, deposits or taxes from their gross revenues when reporting "Profits". When I find out further information, I will post it here.
By definition, any glass bottle should be considered refillable. Most dictionaries would define Refill as "to fill again" and refillable as "able to be made full again". I know of small Ontario wineries that are carefully cleaning and reusing glass bottles, yet I'm assuming that they are gouged for the environmental levy on each bottle. And as an amateur winemaker I assure you that virtually any glass bottle sold by LCBO can be made full again, and resealed, so none should be charging both deposit and environmental levy by the definition above. But I'll see what it says legally...
FOI # 207129: I received, for $30 plus the $5 initiation fee, a form letter and one sheet of paper with the above answer and the answer to # 207127 shared the same piece of paper. The response to # 207129 was apparently from Patrick Ford, who did not list a title. The form letter was signed by FOI official Sheetal Bedi.