UPDATE 5pm Tuesday: BC Consumer Protection branch now says it is very concerned about Shell collecting recycling fees for last month on milk containers. Manjeet Bains, VP Corporate Relations, to comment on camera Wednesday.

CHBC News has learned Shell convenience stores across British Columbia have been collecting a recycling fee on plastic milk jugs in error for more than a month.

“Where’s the money going?” questions Kelowna resident Todd Mackie, who noticed the new levy October 4th following the purchase of a 4L jug of 2% milk at the Gerstmar Road and Highway 33 Shell station in Kelowna.

“I asked them why and they said that we have nothing to do with it, its Shell in Calgary that sets the prices and what not,” says Mackie, holding five receipts for milk he has purchased at the store since October 4th, each with a 20 cent ‘Container Deposit Plastic’ and 6 cent ‘Eco FeePlastic >1L’. “We don’t recycle for cash deposit here in BC, for milk jugs.”

Story continues below advertisement

Encorp Pacific, the company that deals with bottle returns and recycling in BC, confirms milk containers do not have fees attached in this province. Communications Manager Malcolm Harvey confirms Shell Canada should not be charging fees on milk containers in BC.

CHBC News purchased milk at several Shell locations in Kelowna Tuesday morning and were charged anywhere from 5 cents to 26 cents per purchase of a 4L jug of 1%, 2% and homogenized milk. Fee names on the receipts were never the same either, sometimes called EFPLASTIC >1L (6 cents), or ECO MILKGABLE TOP > Container Deposit Milk (5 cents), or Container DepositPla (20 cents), or Eco FeePlastic >1L (6 cents).

Late Tuesday, Shell Canada responded to the error, admitting they learned about the mistake last week. The fee was being charged at more than 100 BC stations.

“In late September Shell moved to a new system of supplying milk to our company owned convenience stores in British Columbia. This involved switching from three separate milk suppliers to one. During this transition of suppliers, paperwork used by retailers whenever a new product is introduced was incorrect, including a deposit for milk containers, when in fact consumers in British Columbia are not charged a fee for deposit.

Shell learned of this mistake late last week and we are working hard to correct the error as soon as possible. We regret any inconvenience this has caused our customers. Customers who were incorrectly charged the deposit fee can bring their receipt to the Shell convenience store where the purchase was made and be reimbursed.”

Story continues below advertisement

“I feel like the consumer is being ripped off. I’m being ripped off by a multi-billion dollar industry,” says Mackie, who was not comforted by the apology. He complained to his local Shell station staff 15 days ago who he said told him they knew of the error but were relying on head office to make a change. “It’s just not right. Somebody’s got to do something.”

The BC Consumer Protection office originally refused to help both Mackie and CHBC News, saying environmental fees are not their mandate. Late Tuesday, they called to say they are now very concerned.