Milk Containers Part of Deposit System
(Updated November 1, 2009)

1. When was the deposit on milk containers implemented?
The deposit on milk containers came into effect on June 1, 2009.  A refundable deposit is paid by consumers on purchases of milk and cream in ready-to-serve containers.  These containers can be returned to a bottle depot for a refund of the deposit.

2. What is the deposit amount on milk containers?
The deposit on milk containers, established through regulation, is the same as the deposit on similar sized containers that have been part of the deposit program for some time – 10¢ for containers 1 litre and under, and 25¢ for milk containers over 1 litre. 

3. What sizes and types of milk and/or cream containers are included in the deposit program? 
Ready-to-serve containers in excess of 30mL of fluid milk, creams, whipping creams, buttermilk and drinkable yogurt are included in the deposit for milk.

4. Why is cream being included in this program?
Cream containers were previously included in the voluntary program, so for consistency purposes, these same products and containers have been carried over into the deposit/refund program.

5. What, if anything, is not included in this program?
Infant formula, non-dairy based flavoured coffee creamers and non-drinkable semi-fluids (ie.yogurt sold in tubes and pop packs) are not included because these products are not ready-to-serve beverages.

6. Is the deposit charged on all milk sales (e.g., coffee shops, sporting events) or just on sales through grocery stores?
As long as it’s sold in a ready-to-serve container, milk purchased in any retail establishment is subject to deposits and applicable recycling fees. In the case of food service establishments such as coffee shops, the deposit may be included in the price of the beverage.

7. Can I redeem milk containers I purchased outside Alberta?
No, only containers that have been purchased in Alberta and charged a deposit can be refunded at the bottle depots.

8. What happened to the red stamp or marking that was added to plastic milk containers after June 1?
As of November 1, 2009, the marking has been removed by dairy processors.  The marking was added to containers to correspond with the June 1 integration of milk containers as a way for bottle depots to ensure the containers had been purchased in Alberta on or after June 1 and a deposit had been paid on them. 

Now that most containers purchased before that date have been returned for recycling, dairy processors are removing the marking to eliminate the extra manufacturing steps required to mark the containers.  Some containers will still have the red marking after November 1, until inventories are depleted.

9. Many Albertans were already recycling their milk containers through voluntary programs, so why were these containers added to the deposit-refund system?
The Government of Alberta seeks to optimize recovery rates for all beverage containers and has set an overall target of 85%. It has concluded that the inclusion of milk containers in the deposit system is desirable to achieve this goal.

10.  Has the inclusion of milk containers in the deposit system positively affected the return rate since June 1?
Yes.  The inclusion of milk containers in the deposit system has been very successful to date.  The return rate for beverage containers is over 81 per cent after just five months.

Return rates for milk containers have risen steadily each month since they were added to the system.  About 64 per cent of plastic milk jugs were returned in September 2009, up from 22 per cent in June, while 43 per cent of milk cartons were brought to bottle depots for a refund that month, up from 15 per cent in June.

Recycling Containers

11. Do I need to keep the label on the milk jugs? 
Yes, you do need to keep the label on the milk jug, so that it can be reasonably identified as a milk jug. If you remove the label you will not be eligible for a refund when you take the milk jugs to the bottle depot.

12. Can I squash the milk containers so they take up less space before I take them to a bottle depot?
Yes, you may squash the milk jugs and cartons so they take up less space – this will not affect your ability to obtain a refund at the bottle depot.

13. Do I have to wash the milk containers before I take them to the bottle depot?
It is highly recommended that you wash or at least rinse the milk jugs and cartons, using cold water, before taking them to the bottle depot.  Any milk containers with a strong odor, or with residual milk or cream, may be rejected by the bottle depot for public health and sanitation reasons.

Container Recycling Fee (CRF)

14. What is a container recycling fee (CRF) and why is it charged?
Container recycling fees represent the net cost of recycling the containers and are required to fund that portion of system operations costs (collection, transportation and marketing) that is not covered by material revenues (i.e., the ‘salvage value’ of the containers) and unredeemed deposits. The CRFs are non-refundable.

15. Is there a container recycling fee (CRF) charged on milk containers over and above the deposit?
Yes, there is a 3¢ CRF on plastic milk containers with a volume of 1 litre or less, and a 6¢ CRF on plastic milk containers over 1 litre. There is a 1¢ CRF on paperboard milk containers with a volume of 1 litre or less, and a 3¢ CRF on paperboard milk containers over 1 litre.

16. Why has the recycling fee charged on milk containers changed?
The former recycling fee funded the voluntary Alberta Dairy Council Milk Container Recycling Program, which provided financial and operational support to municipal and community recycling programs. That fee was removed as of June 1 and has been replaced by a container recycling fee (CRF) which reflects the net cost of collecting milk containers in the deposit system.

17.  Putting a deposit and Container Recycling Fee (CRF) on milk increases my cost.  Will it have a negative impact on low income families who rely on milk as a nutritious staple?
While the cost of milk has increased at the till, consumers will have the choice to return their empty containers to receive a refund of their deposit by returning the empty containers to the bottle depot (the CRF is non-refundable).

18. Aren’t these changes just a way for government to make money (Is this a tax increase from the government)?
No, the Government of Alberta does not receive any funds collected on beverage containers. The funds are managed by a not-for-profit company which operates the recycling deposit/refund system in a transparent manner. The deposit refund system has been in place for over 36 years in Alberta. This approach is consistent with Alberta’s waste management strategy to encourage Albertans to take responsibility for resource conservation and waste minimization.