Plastic Bottle Recycling
Recycling plastic drink bottles is easy! With more than 160 Return-It locations across BC, it’s simple to recycle and get your deposit refund. Find a location near you!
How Do Plastic Bottles Get Recycled?
In BC, over 78% of plastic beverage containers are recycled, kept out of landfills, and transformed into new products. Do your part—recycle your empty containers today!
Recycling Makes A Difference
Every plastic beverage container you recycle makes a difference! Here’s how BC’s commitment to recycling is creating a cleaner, more sustainable future:
-
78%
-
17,791
-
20,709
How to Recycle Your Plastic Bottles
- Collect
In BC, there is a 10¢ deposit on all ready-to-drink beverage containers. Gather your empty plastic drink bottles along with your other empty drink containers. - Return
Recycle your empty plastic bottles along with your other beverage containers at any Return-It depot or use Return-It Express for a hassle-free experience. - Refund
Get your 10¢ deposit refund for every container.
Return-It Express
The faster, easier way to return your drink containers.
No sorting, no line-ups, no handling cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I recycle plastic bottles?
-
When recycling your plastic bottles, ensure that they are fully empty, and do not crush or flatten them. Put the caps back on when returning your plastic bottles, as they can be recycled alongside the bottles. Also remember to keep the label on so that we can confirm the type of bottle. Bring your plastic bottles along with the rest of your empty ready-to-drink beverage containers to a Return-It depot to get your refund.
- Where can I recycle plastic bottles?
-
Plastic bottles can be recycled at all depots, including Express, Express & GO, and Express Plus locations.
To find a nearby location to recycle your plastic bottles, visit return-it.ca/locations.
- How are plastic bottles recycled?
-
The bottles are power-washed, then shredded, then power-washed again. From there, the shredded material is sold to companies who pull, stretch and meld the shreds into fibre for new bottles and buckets. Recycling plastics uses about 1/3 less energy than manufacturing new plastic.
- What is a deposit refund?
-
In BC, a deposit is charged for each ready-to-drink beverage container that is purchased. This deposit is returned in full when you bring back the empty container for recycling. Plastic bottles are issued a 10-cent refund along with the other accepted beverage containers part of the Return-It system.
For a full listing of all containers that can be returned to a Return-It Depot visit https://www.return-it.ca/beverage/products/.
- How do I get my refund?
-
If you sign up for Express, you can put all your empty containers inside clear, transparent bags (no larger than 90L in capacity). Simply bring the bag(s) to an Express location near you, label them, and drop them off. The funds will be issued to your Express account within 10 business days. To redeem the funds, you will need to log in to your Express account.
If you are using over-the-counter depots to return your containers, you will receive your refund in cash at the time of return.