Roger-Luc Chayer (Photos : Gay Globe Media)
These photos were taken on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, on Plessis Street, at the corner of Sainte-Catherine Street East, in Montreal’s Gay Village. They follow our recently published article comparing Montreal, Barcelona, and Nice in terms of recyclable materials management.
Field observation: torn garbage bags and recycling
That day, I drove and walked through several arteries of the Village, and I was able to observe that on almost every street, garbage bags had been torn open to search for recyclable materials, more specifically water bottles, wine bottles, cans, etc.
Government responsibility and the deposit-return law
This situation, which the Village experiences several days a week before the astonished eyes of residents, as well as visitors and tourists, is directly attributable to the Government of Quebec, which is responsible for the deposit-return law.
Official definition of Quebec’s deposit-return law
According to the Government of Quebec website:
“The deposit-return law in Quebec imposes a deposit-refund system for certain beverage containers, such as plastic bottles, cans, and glass bottles. Consumers pay a deposit at the time of purchase, which they recover by returning the empty container to an authorized collection point. This system aims to encourage recycling, reduce waste, and protect the environment. The management and regulation of this system fall under the responsibility of the provincial government.”
Comparison with the European recycling model
It is clear that the deposit-return system is not an effective solution, as it indirectly creates what no one wishes to see happen directly. The European example remains the most telling: there is no deposit system in most countries, but since it is forbidden not to recycle, municipalities provide nearby drop-off locations everywhere, sometimes on every second street corner, and fines are steep when an inspector finds a recyclable item in household garbage. Streets are clean, and the recycling rate is exponentially higher than in Quebec.