How Alberta's Bottle Deposit System Works (2026 Refund Rates)

If you have ever wondered how much your bottles and cans are worth in Alberta, the answer is simple: you get back exactly what you paid in deposit, to the cent. Alberta runs one of the most complete container-deposit systems in North America, and at a depot like ours there are no handling fees taken off the top.

The two deposit tiers

Alberta sets a province-wide deposit on every ready-to-serve beverage container. There are only two rates to remember:

• 10¢ — containers 1 litre or smaller (most cans, water bottles, and standard pop bottles).
• 25¢ — containers larger than 1 litre (big juice jugs, 2-litre pop, large water bottles).

Industry-standard refillable beer bottles are always 10¢ regardless of size, because they go back to be washed and reused. You can see the full breakdown on our refund rates page, which also has a calculator you can use before you load the car.

What actually qualifies

Almost every beverage container sold in Alberta is refundable: aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, Tetra Paks, gable-top cartons, drink pouches, bag-in-box, and more. Only containers that carried an Alberta deposit can be refunded — out-of-province containers are not eligible. For the complete list, see what you can return at an Alberta bottle depot.

How you get paid

At our counter and drive-thru we pay on the spot — cash or e-transfer. If you are in a hurry, use Drop & Go: tag your bag, leave it, and pick up your refund later. For big loads, we offer free pickup on orders over $50 within 15 km.

Why depots don't charge a fee

The deposit you paid is the deposit you get back — every cent. Depots are paid separately through the provincial collection system, so there is no reason to take a cut. App-based pickup services, by contrast, often keep around 30% of your refund. If you are weighing the options, read our breakdown of Drop & Go vs. SkipTheDepot.

Frequently asked