Are the collected beverage containers actually being recycled and reused?
• Approximately 89% of all beverage containers collected are being transported to southern markets for recycling or reuse. • Aluminum and plastic containers are crushed (or densified) by processing centres and transported to recycling markets in Alberta and British Columbia. Aluminum and plastic containers make up about 51% and 19% of the containers collected, respectively. • An Agreement has been negotiated with Brewers Distributing Ltd. in Edmonton that ensures all ‘domestic’ refillable beer and cooler glass bottles are returned to breweries for reuse. These bottles are cleaned and refilled an average of 15 times. Refillable glass bottles make up about 14% of the containers collected. • Multi-material containers such as gable tops, juice boxes and drink pouches are baled and shipped south, then onto Asian markets along with Alberta’s multi-material containers. These containers make up about 5% of the containers collected. • Non-refillable glass gets crushed and turned into “cullet”,
