Environment

Alberta introduces deposit-refund system for milk containers

by Suranee | May 30, 2009 at 12:32 am

2092 views | 25 Recommendations | 5 comments

Alberta will be launching a deposit-refund system for milk containers on June 1st.

Alberta will be the first jurisdiction in Canada to include milk containers in the refund system.

EDMONTON — Albertans will be able to milk more money out of the container-refund system beginning June 1 when the province's deposit-refund system for milk containers kicks in.

Alberta will be the first jurisdiction in Canada to include milk containers in the refund system.

Those who want to get a refund for their milk containers will be paid 25 cents for containers over one litre and 10 cents for smaller ones.

Bottle depots will pay 25 cents for containers over one litre and 10 cents for smaller ones.

That will include cash for containers of milk, buttermilk, whipping cream, drinkable yogurt and other similar beverages.

Only containers identified by “AB DEPOSIT” will be eligible for refund but unmarked milk and liquid cream containers bought before June 1 are not eligible for a refund.

But those who have been hoarding containers in expectation of the big day will be disappointed: only marked containers identified by “AB DEPOSIT” will be eligible for refund.

Unmarked milk and liquid cream containers bought before June 1 are not eligible for a refund, and should be recycled through local municipal recycling programs, the provincial government says.

Although over two billion beverage containers are sold each year in the province, only about 500 million are not recycled.

More than two billion beverage containers are sold each year in the province. About 500 million are not recycled.

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Uwe Paschen

at 04:14 on May 30th, 2009

That is good news, however still not enough and they could replace all plastic container with refunded Glass container as they do in some parts of Europe, Those could be used again for a very long time where as plastic has to be melted and can not be reused for Milk.

Suranee

at 04:48 on May 30th, 2009

Glass containers sounds like a good solution. We have a similar recycling program here for certain glass bottles and two being bottles used to keep sauces and cordials.

Amy Judd

at 07:27 on May 30th, 2009

This is great - I recycle my milk cartons already, but here in BC I think I am in the minority because we don't get paid for any refunds.

Suranee

at 08:12 on May 30th, 2009

I think it's a great move too. Here in Sri lanka, I have not come across a place where the consumer can recycle the milk containers they purchase. I wish the companies that produced the milk products here in Sri lanka would consider implementing such a recycling program.

Patricia B (not verified)

at 14:04 on August 26th, 2009

I have been advised that cartons that are not written in red and marked deposit are not refundable. If this is correct then why are we being charged a deposit on that same product. For example I bought Dairyland 2% in a carton dated Aug 18, 2009 it is marked in black and I do not see anywhere that it says deposit but was charged 25 cents deposit as well as the enviromental fee. Should the powers that be not get their act together with the Milk Producers and ensure that all cartons are marked properly?