General Return-It Recycling Questions
General questions about which containers to recycle, deposits and more.
- How do I know which beverage containers to save?
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Virtually all types of ready-to-drink beverage containers can be returned to your local Return-It Depot; however, some containers have deposits and/or fees, others do not, and some are handled by other contractors or only specific depots.
This website contains all the information you need to know about which container types can be returned, what brands are included, and what (if any) deposits and fees are involved. The best places to look are:
- Where do I take them?
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Take them to any Return-It™ Bottle Depot located in your area, or to the store where you bought them. Alternatively, you may want to hold onto your containers so that they are ready when your community fundraising groups come knocking.
- I do not feel my local bottle depot is run very well. Can/Should I report this to Encorp?
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We're always interested in hearing about which bottle depots are not living up to the Return-It standards. Please send your comments to our Depot Operations Coordinator at returnit@returnit.ca
- What happens to drink boxes and other paper-based cartons (such as
Tetra PakTM ) after they're returned to the bottle depot? - Do I have to take the caps off my containers?
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No, there is no need to remove the caps from your beverage containers when returning them. Beverage containers with or without caps are accepted at the depot, but whenever you can, leave the caps on or put them in your Express bag to ensure all plastic pieces are recycled.
- Do I have to leave labels on my containers?
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Yes, when returning your containers you must leave your labels on. The labels are required so that the depot can identify the container as being part of the deposit system. Paying out for containers which are not part of the system increases costs for the system and, ultimately, for consumers.
- Do I have to remove the straws from my containers?
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For containers that have a straw, like juice boxes or pouches, push the straw back in the empty pack when you are finished with your drink before disposing of. This step will ensure all parts of the package go through the proper recycling process.
- Why don't I get the full deposit back on some beer bottles and beer cans at some bottle depots?
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Alcohol beverage containers registered with Encorp Pacific's Return-It system are guaranteed to receive a full deposit refund at all depot locations. To understand which beverage containers are managed by Encorp Pacific, please see our Registered Brands Database.
Refillable beer bottles and some aluminum alcohol containers are not managed by Encorp Pacific and are the responsibility of BC Brewers Recycled Container Council (BRCCC) and are covered under BRCCC’s Stewardship Plan.
Return-It sites that are not licensed by BRCCC may still accept these containers, but you may only receive a partial deposit refund. Please check with each Return-It site to understand what BRCCC materials and products are accepted there and the refund you can expect to receive.
- Why should I take my beverage containers to a bottle depot when I can put them in the blue bin for curbside pickup?
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The most compelling reason to return your containers to a Return-It depot is to get your refund. You'll get back the deposits you paid when you purchased those beverages. You'd be surprised how quickly they add up!
- I bring my containers to the depot in plastic bags. Does Encorp recycle the plastic bags I leave there?
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Some, but not all, depots have a contract with Recycle BC, the stewardship agency responsible for plastic bags (http://recyclebc.ca/) and can accept plastic grocery bags for recycling so it's best to ask your local depot if they can accept plastic bags.
Also not all types of plastic bags can be recycled so please check with Recycle BC (http://recyclebc.ca/) and confirm that the type of bag you are using is accepted in their program.
- What happens to the containers?
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See the FAQ Videos on YouTube for more information.