Guide to the Depot

A crumpled plastic shopping bag with green and blue design promoting recycled aluminum cans, bottles, and juice boxes.
Two people entering a store labeled 'Depot', one holding a grocery bag and the other holding a water bottle, with cars parked outside.

Rinse Your Containers

By rinsing your empty beverage containers, you help make the Depot a cleaner, more inviting place. Cleaning your beverage containers means less odor and germs. Leave tabs, labels and lids on plastic containers. While it is okay to squish plastic milk jugs, please don’t crush cans or bottles, they need to remain as is.

Hand holding a bottle of raspberry flavored yogurt drink with a green bag and other items inside.

Keep It Tidy

Remember to remove items like plastic rings, carton boxes and other extra packaging that may have come with your beverage containers. Beer bottles however, should be brought to the Depot in the case they were purchased in. Depots use these cases to return the bottles so they can be recycled or refilled.

Variety of canned beverages, a large green water cooler, a clear water bottle, and a can of coconut water on a wooden surface outdoors.

Size is a Big Deal

Some Depots have an automated sorting system that makes the process more efficient. Although you are not required to pre-sort your containers by size (1L and less or over 1L) or type (glass, cans etc.) pre-sorting can help speed up the processing time at a Depot.

A person wearing a black glove is placing a can of sparkling water into a recycling bin, which contains other recyclables like a box of wine and a carton.

Beverage Containers Only

With the exception of beer bottles that can be returned in the cardboard boxes they came in, most Depots in Alberta only process empty beverage containers. Unless the Depots offer recycling areas for other material like garbage bags and cardboard boxes, please take these with you when you leave. 

A man with a beard smiles as he hands cash to a woman, who is giving him a handshake, in an outdoor setting with a wooden fence and green plants in the background.

Raise a Bottle

Consider donating your refund from the Depot to a charity in need. Last year, charities raised millions through the generosity of Albertans just like you.

Alberta has more than 200 Depots that provide a refund in exchange for the return of used, empty beverage containers. After sorting, counting and providing a refund, Depots ship the used beverage containers to be recycled.