Bottles and Cans Recycling
Bottles and Cans
All ready-to drink beverage containers that were purchased in BC and have a paid deposit.
Fun Fact: Humans have been recycling bottles and cans since as early as the 1800s – and they remain the most commonly recycled items we see today! We’re proud to offer recycling services for beverage containers at each one of our five locations across Vancouver Island. Not only do we recycle pop bottles and cans, but we also accept most other ready-to-drink containers such as juice boxes, drink pouches and cartons, glass bottles, wine boxes liquor bottles and cans.
When returning beverage containers for recycling, please note that you may leave labels on, however we do require that containers are free of all liquids. If you are returning both alcoholic and non-alcoholic containers of the same type, such as beer and pop cans, please separate the alcoholic and non-alcoholic containers to make recycling them easier. For more information on how to make your visit to Island Return It more efficient, please see our sorting and carton-specific instructions below. By recycling your bottles and cans you are helping keep waste out of our landfills and doing your part to help keep Vancouver Island beautiful!
We do accept these products, we do not pay refunds. Please note that we are currently unable to accept returns of growlers or U-Brew bottles, as well as containers for milk and dairy substitutes, American beverage containers and any containers where a dairy product is one of the primary (top 3) ingredients.
This program does not include these types:
X U brew bottles
X Milk and Dairy Substitutes
X Containers with dairy in the first 3 ingredients
X American beverage containers
X Growlers
Sorting Instructions
Make sure you leave your sorting station clean for the next customer
- Grab a cart and sorting trays
- Sort according to types and sizes of the containers
- Beer bottles, please leave in original cases
- All pop and beer cans need to be separated and out of their boxes
- Remove all liquids
- Proceed to the till to get your refund back.
- A washing station is available to wash your hands.
Recyclable Container Types
Browse through to see the containers we accept and the requirements around them
Description: Pop Can
Size: 1L & Under
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 288
Requirements: Leave tabs on, Alcohol and non-alcohol MUST be Separated
Description: Plastic Bottle
Size: 1L & Under
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 150
Requirements: Labels on, Liquids out
Description: Plastic Bottle
Size: Over 1L & Under 2
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 50
Requirements: Labels on, Liquids out
Description: Plastic Bottle
Size: Over 2L
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 25
Requirements: Labels on, Liquids out
Description: Glass Juice Bottle
Size: 1L & Under
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): Do not place in Bag
Requirements: Labels on, Liquids out
Description: Glass Juice Bottle
Size: Over 1L
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): Do not place in Bag
Requirements: Labels on, Liquids out
Description: Bi-Metal
Size: 1L & Under
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 150
Requirements: N/A
Description: Bi-Metal
Size: Over 1L
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 50
Requirements: N/A
Description: Drink Box
Size: 0-500ml
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 360
Requirements: No Liquid
Description: Drink Box
Size: 501ml – 1L
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 100
Requirements: No Liquid
Description: Polystyrene Cup
Size: 1L & Under
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 150
Requirements: N/A
Description: Gable Top
Size: 0 – 500ml
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 330
Requirements: No Liquid
Description: Gable Top
Size: 501ml – 1L
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 100
Requirements: No Liquid
Description: Gable Top
Size: Over 1L
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 50
Requirements: No Liquid
Description: Pouch
Size: 1L & Under
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 50
Requirements: N/A
Description: Wine in Box
Size: All
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 10
Requirements: Bag + box for full refund
Description: Liquor Plastic
Size: 501ml – 1L
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 150
Requirements: Labels on, Liquids out
Description: Liquor Plastic
Size: Over 1L
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 50
Requirements: Labels on, Liquids out
Description: Beer Cans
Size: 1L & Under
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): 288
Requirements: Leave tabs on, Alcohol and non-alcohol MUST be Separated
Description: Beer Bottles
Size: 1L & Under
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): Do not place in bags
Description: Beer Bottles
Size: Over 1L
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): Do not place in bags
Requirements: Leave in original cases
Description: Wine/Spirit Bottles
Size: 1L & Under
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): Do not place in bags
Requirements: You can leave in original cases or place in trays
Description: Wine/Spirit Bottles
Size: Over 1L
Value: 10 ¢
Quantity (Bag): Do not place in bags
Requirements: You can leave in original cases or place in trays
Container Recycling Fees
Fees are charged based on weight, size or ease of recyclability
The Container Recycling Fee (CRF) is the fee Encorp charges to cover the net cost of recycling a beverage container type after any unredeemed deposits and commodity revenues for that container type have been used. The CRF varies for each beverage container category. As a not-for-profit, product stewardship agency, Encorp Pacific only charges the net cost for recovering and recycling beverage containers. The CRF reflects the current economic conditions of the drop in commodity prices and beverage volumes.