Lacombe Bottle Depot - Lacombe

Alberta’s Beverage Container Management Board (BCMB) is pleased to see the Government of Alberta’s recently released Natural Gas Vision and Strategy includes a focus on a circular economy for plastics.

Alberta has one of the most successful beverage container recycling systems in the world, with a high recycling rate for plastic beverage containers. In 2019, over 651 million plastic containers were returned to depots for recycling, a return rate of 81.6%. Almost two billion beverage containers in total were recycled last year, for an overall return rate of 85.3%.

Alberta’s success in plastic beverage container recycling is due to the high quality of the plastic. Beverage containers are recovered and collected through a network of over 220 depots and the Collection System Agent (Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation), and all of our plastic containers are recycled in Western Canada.

“The provincial government’s goal to establish Alberta as the Western North America centre of excellence for plastics diversion and recycling by 2030 is both welcome and exciting for the BCMB,” said President, Blaire Charlton-Gaalaas. “Our plastic beverage container success story is a result of the collaborative efforts of the BCMB, its industry stakeholders and the Government of Alberta, and we will support efforts to grow the circular economy for plastics in any way possible.”

“A coordinated, province-wide collection and diversion system for plastics that uses innovation and collaboration to achieve a plastics circular economy aligns with the BCMB’s mandate and values, and will ensure Alberta is a leader in plastics development and recycling,” added Charlton-Gaalaas.  

The BCMB regulates the collection and recycling of beverage containers throughout Alberta. Beverage container recycling in Alberta is enabled through the Beverage Container Recycling Regulation. For more information on beverage container recycling in Alberta visit albertadepot.ca.

Media inquiries may be directed to:

Leanne Stangeland                                                                                       
Communications                                                        
Beverage Container Management Board                 
(780) 909-2456