Alberta Bottle Deposit Rates: How Much Is Each Container Worth?

Every beverage container sold in Alberta carries a deposit. When you return that container to a depot, you get the deposit back. The amount depends on the container's size and material. Here's a breakdown of current rates.

Containers under 1 litre

Most beverage containers under 1 litre carry a 10-cent deposit. This covers the vast majority of what people return: standard pop cans, beer cans, water bottles, juice boxes, and small milk cartons.

Containers 1 litre and over

Containers 1 litre and larger carry a 25-cent deposit. This includes 2-litre pop bottles, large juice containers, 4-litre milk jugs, wine bottles, and liquor bottles.

How it adds up

A single bag of empties might not seem like much, but the math adds up fast. A household that goes through a case of pop and a case of water each week returns about 48 cans at 10 cents each — that's $4.80 a week, or roughly $250 a year. Add in milk jugs, juice containers, and the occasional wine bottle, and you're looking at real money.

Do I get the full deposit back?

Yes. Alberta bottle depots refund the full deposit amount for every eligible container. There's no handling fee and no commission taken from your refund at Triple H Southside Bottle Depot.

Bottle drive refund rates

Bottle drives receive the same per-container refund rates. A school or team that collects 2,000 containers in a weekend drive can expect around $200 to $300 depending on the mix of sizes. Some of our most organized groups raise over $1,000 in a single drive.

Get your refund without the trip

Don't want to load up your car? Book a free pickup with Triple H Southside Bottle Depot. We come to you, count every container, and return your full refund. Same rates, zero hassle.