Alberta takes #1 spot in recycling across Canada, #2 in North America

After narrowly being beaten out by Prince Edward Island in 2022, Alberta is back on top, regaining the highest beverage container return rate in all of Canada.

In 2024, Albertans returned more than two billion cans, bottles and other containers, or 85 per cent of all non-refillable beverage containers. The national average was a paltry 76 per cent. Runners-up include Saskatchewan at 84 per cent, British Columbia at 83 per cent, Ontario at 75 per cent and Quebec at 68 per cent.

Alberta also continues to rapidly gain in the North American rankings, going from ninth in 2016 to fourth in 2018, to second place in 2022 and 2024, trailing only the state of Oregon.

Although Oregon took the top spot, the U.S. state only returns plastic, metal and glass beverage containers. Albertans return a much wider range of beverage containers, including plastic, metal, glass, aseptic carton packages like juice boxes, bag-in-a-box containers like boxed wine, gable tops like milk paperboard cartons, and pouches like those used for juice.

“Albertans are winners and these results prove it,” said Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “My call to Albertans is simple: when you are finished with your cans and bottles, recycle. Put money back in your pocket. And keep helping your fellow Albertans beat the competition.”

Ken White, Chair, Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation (ABCRC), added; “Alberta’s leadership in beverage container recycling is a testament to the strength of our industry-led system. As the operator of the system, Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation works closely with manufacturers, depots, and partners across the province to ensure beverage containers are collected, processed and reintegrated into the circular economy. This achievement reflects the commitment of Albertans to recycling and the ongoing innovation that drives our system forward.”

Quick facts:

• Alberta recycles more than 150,000 different types of non-refillable beverage containers sold in the province.
• Alberta has 219 depots that provide a refund in exchange for the return of used, empty beverage containers. After sorting, counting and providing a refund, Depots ship the used beverage containers to be recycled.
• In the most recent Global Deposit Book, Alberta’s return rate was the highest reported in Canada and trailed only Oregon’s 87 per cent among measured jurisdictions in North America.

-Province of Alberta Release