New tool shows where to return empties amid Beer Store closures in Ontario

There’s a new tool that Ontario residents can use to help them find out where to return empties amid the numerous Beer Store closures in the province.

The Beer Store has been a key location where empty alcohol containers can be returned and consumers could get their deposit money back.

But as more and more of the locations shut down for good amid the expanded alcohol marketplace in the province, consumers may not know where to bring their empties.

The Beer Store recently launched a new tool that identifies empties return sites in the province.

“Ontarians want to recycle. We’re making it simple and convenient to find Beer Store and other authorized locations,” said Ozzie Ahmed, the vice president of retail at The Beer Store.

On The Beer Store website, there is now a “where to return empties” section.

It includes a map where a user can search by postal code or city and then view the nearest places to return empties.

Click here to access it.

It lists Beer Store locations, as well as other places where the containers can be returned.

For instance, Cristello’s Village Market in Campbellville is listed as a site.

The Beer Store says that starting on Jan. 1, all grocery stores that sell alcohol will be required to accept empties and provide customer deposits.

But that has sparked controversy, with some grocery stores saying they will return their licences as a result of that requirement.

“The Retail Council of Canada represents major grocery stores – our members have expressed concerns over the Jan. 1, 2026 requirement for grocers selling alcohol to accept empty alcohol containers,” a spokesperson for the RCC previously told INsauga.com.

READ MORE: Ontario grocers wary of new recycling rules with alcohol sales

“Our members have shared with both RCC, and directly to government that, unless urgent changes are made to build fairer economics in retailing alcohol, and to move away from a mandatory return-to-retail recycling system, our grocery members will start the process of reviewing their future participation in selling alcohol, potentially exiting the category all together.”

So as the number of places to bring back empties is getting smaller as many Beer Stores shut down, the future of the empties return program in Ontario is uncertain.

But that new tool is at least able to identify where Ontarians can currently bring their empties and get some money back.

Lead image via The Beer Store