What You Need to Know

Why all beverage containers must be registered

The BCMB’s Beverage Container Registration By-law sets out the requirement for manufacturers to register all beverage containers sold in Alberta. This requirement is also provincially legislated in the Beverage Container Recycling Regulation. The regulation defines a beverage as any liquid that is a ready-to-serve drink and is not exempt from the regulation. It defines a container as a bottle, can, plastic cup or paperboard carton or a package made of metal, plastic, paper, glass or other material, or a combination of them, that contains or has contained a beverage. 

To review BCMB By-laws click the link below to be redirected to the BCMB Governing Documents page:

Only beverage containers that have been approved by the BCMB can be sold in Alberta. The BCMB must determine whether a beverage container can be recycled in a manner satisfactory to the Board. In determining this, the BCMB may consider the following:

  • The proposed method of recycling, including whether the beverage container can be recycled by a method not previously found to be satisfactory by the BCMB
  • Whether the beverage container can be recycled without contamination to the beverage container recycling system
  • Whether the beverage container can be disassembled in order to avoid contamination to the beverage container recycling system
  • The percentage by weight of materials recoverable
  • The cost of recycling, including any costs of disassembly
  • The marketability of the beverage container materials
  • Whether the beverage container can be visually identified as being distinct from other approved containers
  • Any other criteria relevant to recyclability that the BCMB may consider appropriate.

Registering your beverage container is the law

Failure to register a beverage container can result in fines of up to $500,000 for a corporation or up to $50,000 for an individual.  Unregistered products can also be removed from store shelves.

 

Manufacturers, Distributors & Retailers

The processes for beverage container registration and deposit advertising can be found by clicking on the Registering a Beverage Container and Retailer Deposit Advertising links under Selling a Beverage in Alberta (main navigation bar at the top of the page), or by clicking on the tabs below to be redirected to the appropriate page:

BCMB Mandate - to regulate and enhance a leading beverage container system that protects Alberta’s environment.