This summer, let's make a difference, one can at a time! Consignéco and Sépaq are working together for the benefit of the Parcs Québec Fund

QUÉBEC, June 7, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Consignéco is proud to partner with the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq) to offer a new way to make a difference for the environment. As part of a summer campaign in the Oka and Mont-Orford national parks, starting June 15, the two organizations will join forces to raise Quebecers' awareness on the value of deposit-return while supporting nature conservation.

In addition to reiterating the value for the environment of returning empties, the pilot project will showcase the social potential of the refundable containers: the value of the empties returned to Consignéco collection facilities during the summer season will be matched and turned over to the Parcs Québec Fund.

"For Consignéco, it is a matter of encouraging the return of more refundable cans by promoting their philanthropic potential as well as their ecological value. Each year, deposit return system is responsible for the recovery of 325,000 tons of material. We can do even more and perform even better. This summer, we can all give our empties for a good cause," explained Consignéco spokeswoman Ms. Pascale Demers.

Throughout the summer season, distinctive recycling bins will be installed on site so that users can dispose of their precious refundable containers. This way, they will be contributing to the Parcs Québec Fund - an initiative that allows citizens to play a more direct role in maintaining the ecological integrity of our national parks.

Distinctive recycling bins will thus be installed on site so that users can easily return their precious empties throughout the summer season while helping the Parcs Québec Fund, whose mission is dear to all Quebecers.

"Sustainable development and protecting the environment represent the fundamental values guiding our activities. We visit our national parks to find nature in a pristine state and for the unexpected treasures it may reveal. We go there to admire the beauty of the landscapes. The pilot project will not only help us recover and benefit from recyclable products, but also to take part in protecting, preserving and maintaining the long term beauty and health of our national parks," said Sépaq CEO Mr. Raymond Desjardins.

Further, as part of the awareness campaign, which will run in the two national parks, a special team will visit the Oka national park beach on two consecutive Saturdays, this June 23 and 30, followed by visits to Mont-Orford national park on Saturday July 21 and Saturday August 11. This team will educate visitors on conserving the environment and on how important deposit-return is in achieving this.

"Deposit-return is one of the most widespread eco-friendly gestures in Québec. Quebecers adopted this good habit many years ago. Nowadays, the salutary habit of returning empty cans and bottles has become second nature. This project shows that the benefits of deposit-return go beyond mere economics. Once again, we have an example of a simple, concrete action that can result in significant social and environmental benefits," declared Mr. Pierre Arcand, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Parks.

Every year, 390 million refundable empties, worth nearly 21 million dollars, go un-redeemed. We could use these millions to help people in need and organizations. Consignéco provides a philanthropic kit to support groups that opt for deposit-return as a financing resource to better structure their charitable efforts. The kit is available at www.votrecollecte.ca/en.htm.

ABOUT SÉPAQ AND THE PARCS QUÉBEC FUND
Sépaq has the mandate of managing and developing public lands and tourist equipment entrusted to it by the government. It has established the Parcs Québec Fund to exclusively support projects for the protection of plant and animal wildlife, the maintenance of habitats and the conservation of our cultural heritage in our national parks. Donations received by the Parcs Québec Fund will go to research, monitoring and inventorying activities that will serve to gather valuable information, especially for the conservation of plant and wildlife species. www.fondsparcsquebec.com

ABOUT CONSIGNÉCO
Established in 2011, Consignéco is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the economic, ecological and social value of deposit-return in order to encourage people to return their redeemable beer containers to retailers. This association, the result of an agreement between Québec's brewers and RECYC-QUÉBEC, brings together members of Québec's brewing industry, including Labatt Breweries of Canada, Molson Coors Canada, the Coalition of Québec Beer Distributors, Sleeman Unibroue, and the Québec Microbrewery Association. Your empties are valuable: redeem them! www.consigneco.org

Consignéco
Sylvie Patry
Cabinet de relations publiques
NATIONAL
Tel. : [phone], ext. 232
[email protected]

Sépaq
Patrick Graillon
Conservation coordinator
Tel. : [phone] 
graillon.p[email protected]

Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Parks 
Sarah Shirley
Press attaché
Tel.: [phone]
[email protected]