Beverage Container Recycling Program

The Deposit-Refund Program for Beverage Containers came into effect on April 1, 1996, and applies to all ready-to-serve beverages - except milk, milk products, soya milk, rice beverages, certain meal replacements, formulated liquid diets, foods for low energy diets, thickened juices, baby formulas, concentrates, non-alcoholic beverages 5-litres or greater, and all "return for refund' beverages purchased outside Nova Scotia.

For a sample list of exempted products click here.

Nova Scotia has one of the highest return rates for beverage containers in North America. As of January 2006, Nova Scotians have recycled over two billion beverage containers, keeping these containers out of the landfill and converting them into new valuable products, like new aluminum cans, plastic sheeting, carpet and clothing.

How it works

Consumers pay a 10-cent deposit on each liquor or non-liquor beverage container purchased and collect a 5-cent refund for each container returned to an ENVIRO-Depot™. In the case of liquor containers over 500 ml, a 20-cent deposit is paid and a 10-cent refund is received.

Enviro-Depots also accept leftover latex and alkyd household paint. Some Enviro-Depots also collect scrap metal, lead-acid batteries, cardboard and other recyclable materials. Contact your nearest ENVIRO-DEPOT™ for details.

Since the program began on April 1, 1996: