May 28, 2009
Refund available for milk and liquid cream containers
New deposit fee in place beginning June 1
Edmonton... Alberta will soon be the first jurisdiction in Canada to include milk containers in a
regulated deposit-refund system. On June 1, as with other beverage containers in the system,
milk and liquid cream containers will be returnable to a bottle depot for refund.
The fully-refundable deposit fee for milk containers matches the deposit on similar-sized
containers already part of the deposit program. For containers one litre and under, the deposit
will be 10 cents. The deposit for containers over one litre will be 25 cents.
“We’re always looking for ways to protect our environment by reducing waste,” said Diana
McQueen, Environment Parliamentary Assistant. “We’ve made this change to increase recycling
rates for beverage containers in Alberta and to help to foster a culture of conservation in the
province.”
More than two billion beverage containers are sold in Alberta each year, and about 500 million of
those are not recycled. The current recycling rate for plastic milk jugs is 60 per cent, and for milk
cartons it is 22.5 per cent. The province’s goal, as part of its Too Good to Waste strategy, is an
overall beverage container recycling rate-including milk and liquid cream-of 85 per cent.
“This is an exciting move for Alberta,” said Ross Risvold, Chair of the Beverage Container
Management Board. “Bringing milk and liquid cream containers into the deposit-refund system
will help boost overall beverage container recycling rates and decrease the amount of containers
going into landfills.”
Only marked containers identified by “AB DEPOSIT” will be eligible for refund. Unmarked milk
and liquid cream containers bought before June 1 are not eligible for a refund, and should be
recycled through local municipal recycling programs.
For more information on Alberta’s Beverage Container Recycling Program, visit
www.bcmb.ab.ca. For more information on Alberta’s Too Good to Waste strategy, visit
www.environment.alberta.ca.
-30Backgrounder: Milk and liquid cream container deposit-refund details
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Trevor Gemmell
Communications
John Bachinski
Managing Director
Brian Miller
President
Alberta Environment
780-427-6267
Beverage Container Management Board
1-888-424-7671
Alberta Dairy Council
780-453-7631
To call government (Alberta Environment) toll-free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
May 28, 2009
Dairy container deposit-refund details
How do I distinguish between old and new containers?
The new markings “AB DEPOSIT” are printed in either red or black ink below the neck of a plastic
milk container or on the top of a carton.
Will I receive a refund on the containers I purchased before June 1 if I take them to a bottle
depot?
A deposit was not collected on unmarked containers that were purchased before June 1, so no
deposit will be refunded on those containers. Only marked containers that were charged a
deposit are eligible for a refund. If a marked container is purchased prior to June 1, it will be
eligible for a refund after
June 1.
How can I recycle the containers I purchased before June 1?
Unmarked containers can be brought to a depot for recycling; however, no refunds will apply.
Consumers are advised to check with their local recycling authorities to determine whether milk
and liquid cream containers will continue to be collected through municipal curb-side programs
and drop-off depots after June 1. Whether municipal programs continue to collect used
containers is up to each individual municipality.
Do I have to wash the containers before I take them to the bottle depot?
It is highly recommended that milk and liquid cream containers are washed-or at least rinsed
using cold water-before they are taken to the bottle depot for public health and sanitation reasons.
Any containers with a strong odor or with residual milk or cream may be rejected by the bottle
depot.
Can I squash the containers so they take up less space before I take them to a bottle
depot?
Yes, as long as the “AB Deposit” marking is clearly visible, milk jugs and cartons may be
squashed so they take up less space and this will not affect the ability to obtain a refund at the
bottle depot.
Do I need to leave the label on milk jugs?
Yes, the label on a milk jug must be left on so that it can be reasonably identified as a milk jug. If
the label is removed it will not be eligible for a refund when at the bottle depot.
Is the government making money from this change? (Is this a tax increase from the
government?)
No. The government does not receive any of this money. All of the funds collected are used to
recycle beverage containers.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Trevor Gemmell
Communications
Alberta Environment
780-427-6267
John Bachinski
Managing Director
Beverage Container Management Board
1-888-424-7671
Brian Miller
President
Alberta Dairy Council
780-453-7631
To call government (Alberta Environment) toll-free within Alberta dial 310-0000.
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