RESOURCES
Alberta Bottle Bill
Everything you need to know about the container deposit system in Alberta, including eligible containers, refund values, and collection locations.
Program Information
Name
Alberta Regulation 101/1997 Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act: Beverage Container Recycling Regulation.
Date Implemented
Created in 1972, updated to create the Beverage Container Management Board (BCMB) on 12/1/1997.
Reclamation System
221 operating registered depots and 10 Class-D depots (return to retail).
Fees
Handling commIssions range by material type from $0.04105 CAD to $31.49 CAD. Average handling commission per container: $1.66451 CAD. An annual operating fee is set by and paid to the BCMB. The operating fee (as of May 2022) is $0.0018 CAD per container.
Unredeemed Deposits
Retained by Manufacturers' Agent (ABCRC).
Eligible Containers
Alberta's program accepts a wide variety of beverage containers. Here's what you can return for a refund:
Aluminum Cans
Leave tabs on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 1¢ | 10¢ |
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Clear plastic containers. Keep labels and lids on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 3¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 6¢ | 25¢ |
Plastics
Keep labels and lids on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 3¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 6¢ | 25¢ |
Tetra Brik
Caps on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 4¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 11¢ | 25¢ |
Gable Top
Caps on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 5¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 11¢ | 25¢ |
Bi-Metal
Leave labels on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 8¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 8¢ | 25¢ |
Pouches
Caps on, push the straws in
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| Pouch 0-1L | 4¢ | 10¢ |
| Bag In A Box >1L | 4¢ | 25¢ |
Glass
Caps on, labels on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 7¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 7¢ | 25¢ |
What's Not Accepted
Non-Beverage Containers
Soup cans or food jars.
Containers Without Deposit
Containers purchased outside of Alberta, missing tables, or without a paid deposit (some brewery containers).
Non-Consumable Liquids
Containers for oil, antifreeze, or other non-consumable liquids.
Nutritional Drinks
Bottles containing meal replacement or nutritional supplement drinks.
Infant Formula
Baby formula in plastic/glass.
Medical Food Containers
Prescription nutrition drinks.
Program Performance
Alberta's container recycling program has shown strong results in recent years:
| Category\Year | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolute Recovery Rate | 85%+0.1% | 84.9%+1.9% | 83%-1.1% | 84.1%+1.9% | 82.2% |
Relative Recovery Rate | 87.7%+0.2% | 87.5%+0.5% | 87%+0.4% | 86.6%+0.5% | 86.1% |
| Aluminum | 89% | 88.9% | 88.6% | 88.2% | 87.5% |
| Bi-Metal | 97.9% | 97.5% | 97.3% | 97.1% | 96.4% |
| Glass | 98.7% | 98.5% | 98.3% | 98.1% | 97.8% |
| Plastics | 81.2% | 80.9% | 80.2% | 79.5% | 79.1% |
| Polycoat (Tetra Brik & Gable Top) | 72% | 71.5% | 70.8% | 70.2% | 69.5% |
References:
Regulations & Resources
Key legislation and resources for Alberta's container recycling program:
Beverage Container Recycling Regulation (AR 101/1997)
Primary regulation governing Alberta’s beverage container deposit system, establishing the Beverage Container Management Board and outlining deposit-refund requirements.
Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA)
Alberta’s overarching environmental legislation, providing the legal framework for the Beverage Container Recycling Regulation and other environmental initiatives.
Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation (ABCRC) Stewardship Plan
ABCRC’s plan detailing the management of non-refillable beverage containers within Alberta’s deposit-return system.
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