How to Store Bottles and Cans Safely Over an Edmonton Winter

Once the temperature drops, a lot of Edmonton households stop making depot runs. The empties keep coming, though. By March the garage can hold a wall of bags, some frozen to the floor, some split open and a few that smell like old juice. A little planning in the fall keeps your containers clean, safe and ready to cash in.

Empty and rinse before you bag

This is the most important winter tip. Leftover pop, juice or beer can freeze in a cold garage. A bottle that still holds liquid can crack as it freezes, and thawed drinks leave sticky puddles that glue bags together. The Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation recommends emptying all leftover liquid and giving containers a quick rinse, especially milk and juice cartons. They don't need to be spotless. A few seconds per container saves a big mess later.

Keep caps on and cans uncrushed

It's tempting to stomp cans flat to save space over the winter. Try not to. The Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation asks that cans and plastic bottles stay uncrushed so they can be counted and sorted properly. Caps can stay on, too. On plastic bottles they help keep any last drops inside the bottle instead of in your bag.

Choose the right storage spot

Where you keep your bags matters as much as how you pack them. A few simple rules:

• Store bags off the concrete floor, on a shelf, pallet or sheet of plywood, so they don't freeze to the ground when snow melts off your car
• Keep them clear of the furnace, the water heater and anything else that gets hot
• Use sturdy bags or lidded bins, since thin plastic bags get brittle in the cold and tear more easily
• Put wine and liquor bottles in a sturdy box so a dropped bag doesn't send broken glass across the garage
• Leave a clear walkway so bags never block a door, the furnace room or your path to the car

Watch out for pests

Mice and other critters look for sheltered spots as the weather turns cold, and garages are a favourite. Sweet residue from pop and juice is an easy invitation. Rinsed containers, tied bags and lidded bins make your stash a lot less interesting to them.

Don't let the pile grow all winter

The simplest storage plan is to not store very much at all. Instead of saving everything until spring, book a free bottle pickup every few weeks. Bags leave the garage before they freeze, smell or get in the way, and you get your refund all winter long instead of in one big spring trip. Each refundable container is worth 10 or 25 cents depending on its size, so a few bags a month add up. You can see the full breakdown on our return rates page.

Make winter pickups easy for our crew

On pickup day, set your bags somewhere easy to reach, like the front step, the porch or beside the garage door. Keep them off snowbanks and away from spots where a snowplow or your neighbour's snowblower might bury them. A shovelled path to the bags helps our team get in and out quickly and safely.

If a storm rolls in on your pickup day, no problem. Your booking confirmation email lets you cancel or reschedule, or you can call us at 780-463-3232 or text 780-236-1140.

Rather drop off? We're open seven days a week

If you're already out running errands, you can also bring your empties straight to the depot at 4151 98 St NW. We're open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 to 5:30, and Sundays and holidays from 10 to 5. No sorting needed. Just bring your bags in.

However you return them, a little care in the fall means clean, easy empties all winter. Book a free pickup whenever your bags start to pile up.