What would you like to Recycle?

Beverage Containers (refundable)

drink boxes, glass, bottles, cans, water bottles, juice, soda, pop, alcohol, refund, deposit, tetra pak, wine box, milk, milk cartons, plastic milk jugs, rice milk, almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, plant-based beverages, milk alternatives, milk substitute 

Glossary
Beverage Containers (refundable)
Whether your favourite ready-to-drink beverage comes in a can, bottle or drink box, recycling it is the right thing to do. Keeping these items out of the landfill reduces the environmental consequences of these convenience items and can put money back in your pocket.

Effective February 1, 2022 the refundable beverage container program is expanding to include "ready-to-drink" milk and plant-based beverages like oat, soy, and almond. Find out more >>

Reduce | Reuse | Recycle | Facilities

How do I go green?

Why buy calorie-laden drinks when we have fabulous and clean tap water? Put your refillable containers to work.

Rinse, refill, repeat - a way to reuse your container before it goes to the recycling depot.

Beverage containers can be returned to designated collection facilities (bottle depots) or retailers. Retailers are entitled to limit the total number of returns to 24 containers per person per day of the same brand and type that the retailer sells. Contact facilities directly regarding restrictions and charges.

You can also find the collection site nearest you for beverage containers at Return It and for beer and cider containers envirobeerbc.ca.

Facilities

  • BC Liquor Stores

    All locations in the capital region

  • Bottle Depot - Downtown Victoria

    655 Queens Avenue
    Victoria
    250.727.7480

  • Bottle Depot - Glanford

    4261 Glanford
    Victoria
    250.727.7480

  • Bottle Depot - Quadra

    3961 Quadra
    Victoria
    250.727.7480

  • Ellice Recycle

    524 David Street
    Victoria
    250.386.4342

  • Esquimalt Return-It

    935 Ellery
    Victoria
    250.381.1482

  • Galiano Recycling Depot

    220 Sturdies Bay Road
    Galiano Island
    250.539.5769

  • GFL Environmental (formerly Alpine, and Terrapure Environmental)

    1045 Dunford Avenue
    Victoria
    250.474.5145

  • Grocery Stores



  • Island Return It, Saltspring

    251 Fulford-Ganges Rd
    Salt Spring Island
    250.537.8784

  • Pender Island Recycling Depot

    4400 Otter Bay Road
    Pender Island
    250.629.6962

  • Port Renfrew Garbage & Recycling Depot

    17055 Parkinson Road
    Port Renfrew
    1.800.663.4425

  • Salt Spring Island Recycling Depot

    349 Rainbow Road
    Salt Spring Island
    250.537.1200

  • Saturna Island General Store

    101 Narvaez Bay Road
    Saturna Island
    250.539.2936

  • Saturna Island Recycling Depot

    101 Harris Road
    Saturna Island
    250.539.8080

  • Sidney Return-It

    5-10025 Galaran Road
    Sidney
    778.351.2828

  • Sooke Bottle Depot

    2032 Idlemore Road
    Sooke
    250.642.4040

  • South Jubilee Neighbourhood Association Recycle

    1625 Bank Street
    Victoria
    250.595.2685

    • The Environmental Story

    Ready-to-drink beverage containers are made from a variety of materials, and all have their benefits and drawbacks. Plastic is light, and inexpensive, but recycling plastic bottles takes a lot of energy, and usually they can only be downcycled into lower grade products. Drink boxes are lightweight and good at food preservation, but many end up in the trash. Glass is composed of non-toxic natural materials, but is heavy and causes more greenhouse gas emissions during transport. Aluminum is very damaging to the environment to produce initially, but can be recycled almost indefinitely. Using less is the key.

    Did You Know?

    You can donate your containers and their deposit?
    Save your containers for school and sports groups conducting fundraisers.
    Find a community donation bin, these are open for 24 hour drop off.
    Have lots of containers? Check out Bottle Depot Charity Pick-Up Service for more details.