Frequently Asked Questions

This approach is consistent with Alberta’s waste management strategy to encourage Albertans to take responsibility for resource conservation and to minimize waste.

When you return beverage containers to a Depot in Alberta, you will receive a refund of the deposit you initially paid when you purchased the product from a retailer. The deposit/refund amount for containers 1 litre or less is 10 cents and for containers larger than 1 litre the deposit/refund is 25 cents.

All “ready-to-serve” beverage containers sold in Alberta are part of the recycling system. There are over 150,000 beverage containers registered in the province, including: plastic drink bottles and jugs, aluminum cans, polycoat containers, glass bottles and metal cans. If you are unsure if a container can be returned for a refund, check with your Depot.

No. Deposits aren’t charged on concentrate mixes. They are not considered “ready-to-serve” as they need to be mixed prior to consumption.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for a trip to the Depot:

• Ensure that your containers are empty.
• Give the containers a quick rinse, especially milk containers.
• Leave the caps, tabs and labels on.
• Keep in mind that Saturday is usually the busiest day and plan around it.
• Confirm the hours of operation at your local Depot.
• If you pre-sort and count your containers before heading to a Depot it can help to make the process faster; however, the Depots will do this for you.
• Please take all boxes and bags home with you to reuse or recycle.

Yes, you can squash them flat so they take up less space in your recycling bags or bins, but leave the label on the container so it is still recognizable to Depot staff as a registered milk container.

Yes, contact Strathmore Bottle Depot today.

Most Depots have a way for you to donate your containers to a local charity. Depots also work with community groups and local organizations to host bottle drives. If you are interested in donating your containers, setting up a donation program, or holding a bottle drive, contact your local Depot.

No. Only containers that have been purchased in Alberta and charged a deposit can be refunded at Depots. The refund deposit system for beverage containers in Alberta is dependent on the cycle of a deposit charged, and then the refund paid out when that beverage container is returned to a Depot. Any imbalance in the system can be very costly and puts the system at risk.

Yes! Our system is able to accept your empty beverage containers that still have the lids, caps and labels on them.