Bottle Depot

AND RECYCLING CENTRE

Calgary’s only nonprofit social enterprise Bottle Depot and Bottle Pick-up Service.

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HOURS OF OPERATION. SUNDAY TO SATURDAY • 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Closed on all statutory holidays unless otherwise specified.

DEPOT GUIDE

Bring your bottles, cans and beverage containers to Vecova’s Bottle Depot and receive your refund. Save the environment and be rewarded at the same time!

Vecova’s Bottle Depot and Bottle Pick-Up Service uses the latest technology to collect and process your refund faster. This means less wait time for you!

Rinse Your Containers

Help make our Depot a clean and inviting place – rinse your empty beverage containers. Cleaning your beverage containers means less odor and germs. Leave tabs, labels and lids on plastic containers. While it is okay to squish plastic milk jugs, please don’t crush cans or bottles.

Size is a
Big Deal

We have an automated sorting system that makes the process more efficient. Although you are not required to pre-sort your containers by size (1L and less or over 1L) or type (glass, cans etc.) pre-sorting can help speed up the processing time at our Depot.

Keep It Tidy

Remember to remove items like plastic rings, carton boxes and other extra packaging that may have come with your beverage containers. Beer bottles can be brought to the Depot in the case they were purchased in. Depots use these cases to return the bottles so they can be recycled or refilled.

All Things Recycling

Vecova’s Bottle Depot has partnered with a number of organizations to expand our services and help divert more waste from landfills to be recycled or upcycled into new products. We are now accepting the following products in addition to containers, thanks to our amazing partners:

Wine bottle corks

in partnership with ReCork

Alkaline, lithium and eCycle batteries

in partnership with Call2Recycle

Clothing and textiles

in partnership with Goodwill Industries of Alberta, we now have an interior and exterior bin for donations and drop-offs

Electronics

in partnership with Technotrash Alberta and the City of Calgary

Empty fuel canisters for safe disposal and recycling

in partnership with the City of Calgary

Help the environment and keep Alberta clean, while receiving a cash refund every time you recycle at our depot.

What’s your refund? The latest container recycling types and refund information is available from the Alberta Bottle Depot Association (ABDA). Return rates are regulated by the Beverage Container Management Board (BCMB). The Alberta Bottle Depot Association (ABDA) impact calculator can tell you what impact your recycled containers have on our environment. See how much greenhouse gas you have saved from being released and landfill you have prevented from being created.

CALCULATOR

Bottle Depot FAQs

A: As a social enterprise representing Vecova, our goal is to ensure the customer has received a fair and accurate refund. We use a few different methods to maintain our high level of accuracy. First is through TOMRA’s Sorting Solutions, the automated bottle depot counting/sorting technology we use at Vecova. Second is through industry regulator inspections through secret shopper evaluations, which ensures that our depot is compliant and accurate with counting. Finally, in the event of a counting dispute, we utilize surveillance cameras to review counts when requested. This can take up to 72 hours.

A: You can leave caps on, but please ensure the bottle is empty and the label is left on.

A: While the depot staff appreciate this extra effort, it is not required. Sorting your bottles helps the depot function more efficiently; it is much easier and faster to process if all like containers are grouped together.

A: While it’s not required, washing bottles removes residues and eliminates odours which not only helps maintain our depot’s cleanliness and but also detracts flies, mice and other pests. The results of rinsing your containers makes processing your order much nicer for the staff as well.

A: In Alberta, the regulation guides depots to provide a refund for any registered beverage container sold in the province of Alberta. This includes, pop, water, milk and dairy products, and alcoholic beverages. You can use the portal at the BCMB site to determine if a container is registered for a deposit here Products – BCMB Inc.

A: If you leave your bottles at Vecova’s Bottle Depot we will process the product and the funds are then donated to Vecova anonymously.

Vecova is a registered charity. If you wish to donate and receive a tax receipt, please see one of the depot staff to fill out the labels for your bags.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vecova’s Recycling Service provides a variety of programs to divert waste from landfills, conserve resources, save energy, feed a green economy and contribute to a healthy Alberta. If your question isn’t answered below, please contact us!

For more information on bottle depot recycling in Alberta, please visit AlbertaDepot.ca

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Pick-up Service

Save time and make a difference! Recycle.

Sign-up for our regular, reliable and professional commercial and residential pick-up service and we’ll send you information on your pick-up schedule, drop off your bags or collection bins and keep track of your collection and tax receipts easily. Proceeds go directly to Vecova’s programs, services and research for persons with disabilities.

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