As a national leader in beverage container recycling, Alberta’s system must remain as dynamic as the province it regulates. With our population now exceeding 5 million, Beverage Container Management Board (BCMB) faces a unique opportunity. Regulating a growing system means more than just maintaining our status as the best in Canada, it means ensuring our system evolves alongside the stakeholders who power it.
Recent Statistics Canada projections reinforce this urgency, showing that Alberta’s population is set to grow by up to 3.1 million over the next 25 years, eventually surpassing British Columbia as Canada’s third-largest province. To support a growing economy and changing demographics, we partner with Ipsos Reid every two years to conduct an extensive, anonymized Survey of Albertans. This biennial data provides crucial data into the motivations and values that will define the province’s recycling success.
So, what did Alberta have to tell us this year? To start, Alberta’s beverage container recycling system is successfully meeting the needs of Albertans in several areas, but there are also opportunities for future improvements.
What’s Going Well?
1. Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability is a key factor driving Albertans to return their beverage containers to a depot. In fact, an overwhelming 97% of survey respondents agreed that recycling beverage containers has a positive impact on Alberta’s environment. This suggests that Albertans return their beverage containers for more than just the deposit refund; there is clear alignment with broader environmental benefits beyond immediate financial incentives.
2. System Understanding
The results also show that most Albertans are familiar with the beverage container recycling system in the province. This is supported by 88% of respondents, indicating that they are familiar with the system, a figure closely aligned with Alberta’s average collection rate of 85%. Education on what the beverage container recycling system is and how Albertans can use it remains a top priority for BCMB.
Regarding the regulation of our system, 70% of respondents were aware that the beverage container recycling system was regulated, and 82% felt that having the system regulated was important.
3. Depot Satisfaction
When choosing a depot to return their beverage containers, Albertans rate accuracy and convenience as the most important factors. Just as importantly, when asked about their most recent visit to their local bottle depot, 79% reported being satisfied with their overall experience, with accuracy and location convenience identified as important by over 80% of respondents.
4. Albertan Donation Trends
Deposit donations are an important way to assess how Albertans use the beverage container recycling system beyond simply collecting a refund. When asked about their use of returned deposits over the past twelve months, two in five (42%) survey respondents reported that they donated empty beverage containers or the refunds obtained from them to a charity, community group, or fundraising initiative.
The volume of donations highlights the importance of the beverage container recycling system not only to Alberta’s circular economy, but also to local initiatives that benefit from the generosity of their communities. The topic of donations was a new addition to the 2026 Survey of Albertans with the hope of better understanding the various ways in which the public utilized the deposit system.
The topic of donations was a new addition to the 2026 Survey of Albertans, introduced to better understand the various ways in which the public utilizes the deposit system. Over the next two years, additional work will be undertaken to assess the broader social impact of beverage container recycling on not-for-profits, charities, and community organizations in Alberta.
Areas for Opportunity
While Alberta’s beverage container recycling system continues to perform well, the survey identified several opportunities for improvement.
Wait times, the time required to return containers, and travel distance remain the most commonly cited barriers to participation in Alberta’s deposit return system. As the province continues to grow, maintaining convenient access to recycling services will become increasingly important.
These findings reinforce the importance of BCMB’s Alternative Collection Pilot Projects, which are scheduled to launch in 2026. The pilots will explore innovative and accessible collection options designed to complement Alberta’s existing depot network, improve convenience for Albertans, and help increase participation across the province. Additional details on pilot locations, timelines, and outcomes will be shared as the projects progress.
The survey also identified opportunities to continue strengthening public awareness. Just over half of Albertans (51%) reported having brought a container to a depot that was not accepted, while awareness of several refundable container types remains relatively low. Improving understanding of what can be returned and how Alberta’s beverage container recycling system supports the circular economy can help further enhance the customer experience.
What’s Next?
BCMB remains committed to regulating and enhancing Alberta’s beverage container recycling system while staying informed about the needs and expectations of Albertans.
As Alberta grows, so too must the systems that support it. The Survey of Albertans provides valuable insight into the behaviours, priorities, and experiences of the people who use Alberta’s beverage container recycling system every day. These findings will help guide future innovation, education, and system improvements, ensuring Alberta remains a national leader in beverage container recycling for years to come.