All beverage containers sold in Alberta must be registered with the BCMB. This includes non-alcohol, alcohol and cannabis beverages.
Why all Beverage Containers Must be Registered
The BCMB’s Manufacturer and Retailer By-law sets out the requirement for manufacturers to register all beverage containers sold in Alberta. This requirement is also provincially legislated in the Beverage Container Recycling Regulation. The regulation defines a beverage as any liquid that is a ready-to-serve drink and is not exempt from the regulation. It defines a container as a bottle, can, plastic cup or paperboard carton or a package made of metal, plastic, paper, glass or other material, or a combination of them, that contains or has contained a beverage.
Only beverage containers that have been approved by the BCMB can be sold in Alberta. The BCMB determines if a beverage container can be recycled in a manner satisfactory to the Board. In determining this, the BCMB may consider the following:
- The proposed method of recycling, including whether the beverage container can be recycled by a method not previously found to be satisfactory by the BCMB
- If the beverage container can be recycled without contamination to the beverage container recycling system
- If the beverage container can be disassembled in order to avoid contamination to the beverage container recycling system
- The percentage by weight of materials recoverable
- The cost of recycling, including any costs of disassembly
- The marketability of the beverage container materials
- If the beverage container can be visually identified as being distinct from other approved containers
- Any other criteria relevant to recyclability that the BCMB may consider appropriate.
Industry Notices
Date / Latest- Beverage Registration Requirements: Alcoholic vs Non-Alcoholic January 20, 2026
- Delay in Transition of Alcohol Container Registrations July 28, 2023
- Alcohol Container Registrations March 31, 2023
- Registration of Oral Re-hydration Solution Containers July 15, 2022
- Hand Sanitizer Containers April 17, 2020
- Compliant Beverage Containers January 28, 2020
- Biodegradable Containers January 22, 2020