RESOURCES
British Columbia Bottle Bill
Everything you need to know about the container deposit system in British Columbia including eligible containers, refund values, and collection locations.
Program Information
Name
British Columbia Recycling Regulation, Environmental Management Act (B.C. Reg. 449/2004), Schedule 1 – Beverage Container Product Category.
Date Implemented
Created in 1970, updated under the Environmental Management Act (B.C. Reg. 449/2004) with Extended Producer Responsibility applied in 2004.
Reclamation System
Over 170 Return-It depots, plus additional return-to-retail sites, bag drops, and Express & GO stations.
Fees
Handling commissions range by material type from approximately $0.02 CAD to $29.51 CAD. CRF (Container Recycling Fee) set by Encorp Pacific varies by container type. No standard per-container operating fee.
Unredeemed Deposits
Retained by Encorp Pacific (Canada).
Beverage Products Deposits, Fees, & Container Types
Learn about which containers can be returned and recycling fees. Container Recycling Fees effective as of February 1, 2025.
Aluminum Cans
Leave tabs on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 2¢ | 10¢ |
Glass Bottles
Caps on, labels on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 13¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 13¢ | 10¢ |
Plastic Cups
Polypropylene cup with lid
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 345mL | 5¢ | 10¢ |
Plastic Bottles
Caps on, labels on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 5¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 6¢ | 10¢ |
Drink Boxes
Caps on, push the straws in
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 500mL | 2¢ | 10¢ |
| 501 mL – 1L | 2¢ | 10¢ |
Gable Top
Caps on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 1¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 1¢ | 10¢ |
Bi-Metal Cans
Leave labels on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 3¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 3¢ | 10¢ |
Drink Pouches
Push straws in
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 2¢ | 10¢ |
Bag-in-a-Box
Water - Leave bag in box
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| Over 1L | 30¢ | 10¢ |
Liquor Plastic
Caps on, labels on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 5¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 6¢ | 10¢ |
Liquor Glass
Caps on, labels on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 1L | 13¢ | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | 13¢ | 10¢ |
Alcohol Bag-in-a-Box
Alcohol - Leave Bag in Box
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| Over 1L | 30¢ | 10¢ |
Liquor Glass
Non-Refillable Beer
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 1L | 0 - 1L | 10¢ |
| Over 1L | Over 1L | 10¢ |
Ceramic Bottles
Do not crush or break them
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| All Sizes | $29.51 | 10¢ |
What's Not Accepted
Non-deposit Dairy/Plant-Based Containers
Containers NOT included in the program are those not meant primarily as “ready-to-drink,” such as infant formula, meal replacement or dietary supplements, coffee cream and other coffee additives, whipping cream, buttermilk, drinkable yogurt and kefir.
Packaging Containers
Plastic packaging such as wrap, plastic rings for 6-pack, clam shell etc. Any plastic, paper and/or cardboard packaging that should be recycled under the Recycle BC program.
Program Performance
British Columbia's beverage container recycling program has achieved significant results:
| Category\Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolute Recovery Rate | 71.6%+0.9% | 70.7%+0.8% | 69.9%+1.8% | 68.1% |
Relative Recovery Rate | 87.5%+0.5% | 87%+0.4% | 86.6%+0.5% | 86.1% |
| Aluminum | 84.1% | 81.6% | 79.9% | 77.7% |
| Plastic | 78.6% | 74.4% | 72.7% | 71.4% |
| Glass | 89.9% | 86.8% | 86.9% | 86.4% |
| Drink Boxes | 58.8% | 55.8% | 54% | 52.3% |
| Gable Top Cartons | 62.7% | 65.4% | 59.6% | 57.4% |
| Bi-Metal | 78.6% | 83.8% | 83.4% | 82.9% |
| Bag-in-Box | 54.2% | 48.8% | 47.8% | 46.9% |
| Pouches | 33% | 21.4% | 23.5% | 22.7% |
References:
Regulations & Resources
Key legislation and resources for British Columbia's container recycling program:
Recycling Regulation (B.C. Reg. 449/2004)
Primary regulation governing beverage container stewardship in B.C., outlining producer responsibilities and recovery targets.
Encorp Pacific (Return-It) Stewardship Plan
Encorp's plan detailing the management of non-alcoholic beverage containers under B.C.'s deposit-return system.
Brewers Recycled Container Collection Council (BRCCC) Stewardship Plan
BRCCC's plan for managing refillable beer bottles and alcohol cans within B.C.'s recycling framework.
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