If you purchased a registered beverage sold in Alberta, it can be returned for a refund.
Most ready-to-drink beverages sold in Alberta carry a refundable deposit ($0.10 or $0.25 depending on volume) and can be returned to any Alberta bottle depot for a refund.
Whether your drink comes in a can, bottle, carton, pouch, jug, or another type of container, the material doesn’t determine whether it’s refundable.
What matters is whether the beverage container is registered for sale in Alberta.
Some of the most common beverage containers for refund include:
- Non-refillable water
- Soft drinks
- Juice
- Sports drinks
- Energy drinks
- Beer
- Wine
- Spirits
- Ready-to-drink cocktails
- Milk
- Plant-based beverages
- Sparkling water
And so much more.
What’s Not Included (Not Deposit-bearing)?
- Flavour additives and enhancers
- Infant formula (0-12 months of age)
- Food products & additives
- Drink concentrates that require dilution
- Food products packaged in beverage-style containers
- Soup cartons
- Coconut milk intended for cooking
- Fruit puree squeeze packs
These products may still be recyclable through municipal recycling programs, but they aren’t eligible for a beverage container refund.
If you can answer yes to these two questions, the answer is usually yes:
- Was the product sold as a ready-to-drink beverage, intended for drinking?
- Was it purchased in Alberta?
If you’re still unsure, your local bottle depot[NF1] can help.[NF2]
[NF1]Hyperlink to the ABDA website.
[NF2]Is there a way to keep this locked on the screen (as a side text box almost) as someone is scrolling on the page?