Alberta’s deposit system is designed to keep valuable materials in the provincial economy and out of landfills. The system is built on a clear framework of responsibilities that spans consumers, businesses, and system operators.
- Manufacturers and retailers sell beverages to consumers.
- Consumers purchase beverages, pay applicable fees, and return empty containers to bottle depots.
- Bottle depots refund deposits and collect and sort empty containers.
- Collection System Agents and Providers manage container recovery and recycling.
- BCMB, Alberta’s beverage container recycling regulator, provides oversight and regulation.
Meet the System Stakeholders[NF1]
Who Pays for the System?
It starts with you.
Every beverage purchased and every container returned helps make Alberta’s deposit return system work.
Consumers return containers for refund. Beverage manufacturers through their sales fund the collection and recycling system and meet regulatory requirements established by BCMB.
Unlike many public programs, Alberta’s beverage container recycling system is unique and receives no government funding. It is not supported by taxpayer dollars. Instead, it is sustained through industry investment, consumer participation, and the value recovered from recycled materials.
Deposits & Container Recycling Fees
When you buy a ready-to-serve beverage in Alberta, check your receipt.
You should notice two distinct costs associated with the container. It is important to understand the difference between the two.
Deposit (REFUNDABLE)
This is a small surcharge paid at the time of purchase. It acts as an incentive. Albertans pay it upfront, and get it back when they return an empty container to one of Alberta’s bottle depots.
- 10¢ for containers 1 litre or less.
- 25¢ for containers larger than 1 litre.
The Container Recycling Fee (CRF*) (NON-REFUNDABLE)
While the deposit comes back to you, the CRF does not.
Different containers have different recycling costs, so the fee varies by container type. The fee helps pay for collecting, moving, and recycling containers after they’re returned, without using taxpayer dollars.
* BCMB oversees the recycling system but does not determine CRF rates. These fees are set annually by Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation (ABCRC), the Collection System Agent (CSA) representing beverage manufacturers in Alberta.
Where Does the Money Go?
Your Deposit
Your deposit remains in Alberta’s beverage container recycling system until one of two things happens:
- You return your container and receive your refund.
- The container is never returned, and the unredeemed deposit remains in the recycling system to help support operations*.
* Unredeemed deposits do not go to BCMB or the Government of Alberta. When containers are not returned for refund, those deposits remain within the recycling system and with the CSA, ABCRC.
The CRF
Container Recycling Fees help pay for:
- Collecting containers from depots
- Transportation and logistics
- Sorting and processing materials at the CSA’s warehouses
- Recycling and end-market management
- Other system operating costs required to recycle containers responsibly
What Happens When You Return a Container?
Step 1: You Return It
Bring your empty beverage containers to a bottle depot and receive your deposit refund.
Step 2: A Bottle Depot Sorts It
Bottle depots separate containers by material and type, preparing them for collection from the CSA and eventual recycling by an end-processor.
Step 3: Containers Are Collected
Alberta’s Collection System Agent (CSA) and Collection System Providers (CSPs) pick up containers from depots and transport them for processing and sale as a resource stream (i.e. aluminum, PET plastic, bi-metal, etc.)
Step 4: Materials Get a New Purpose
Depending on the material, containers may be:
- Recycled into new beverage containers
- Made into new packaging and products
- Reused through refillable programs
- Processed into materials used in manufacturing and construction
The cleaner the material stream, the more valuable and reusable the recovered materials become.
Explore Alberta’s Beverage Container Recycling System[NF2]
[NF1]Link to “Third Tile: Who Makes the System Work”
[NF2]Explore the System Articles.