EDMONTON, AB (October 23, 2019): Alberta’s Beverage Container Management Board (BCMB) applauds today’s decision by the Government of British Columbia to increase the deposit value for non-alcoholic beverage containers returned in BC. Effective November 1, 2019, non-alcoholic beverage containers 1 litre or less in size will increase in deposit value from 5 cents to 10 cents. This decision aligns our provincial programs and will benefit the environment by increasing the return rate for these containers.
The BCMB saw return rates increase by more than 10% when deposit values were increased in Alberta a decade ago. This means fewer containers will find their way into landfills and waterways. In addition to having a very real and positive effect on the environment, the harmonization of beverage container deposit values between BC and Alberta will also reduce concerns related to interprovincial transport of beverage containers between our two provinces.
We commend this decision and look forward to seeing the positive effects it will have in British Columbia.