July 8, 2010

Alberta container recovery tops 77 percent

The latest yearly status report from the Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corp. (ABCRC) shows the province diverted over 91,156 tons of accepted containers from landfill in 2009 and improved the return rate to 77 percent. Glass and aluminum containers accounted for the highest return rates, at 90.5 percent and 86.5 percent, respectively. Over 78 percent of PET containers were returned in the province, along with 74 percent of all bi-metal cans. Polycoat products and other plastics lagged behind, at 56.4 percent and 49.7 percent each, and were identified as areas for growth on the way to the province's goal of an 85-percent return rate by 2011.

An accompanying statement from ABCRC Chair Ken White credited an increase in the deposit rates for covered beverage containers, which took effect November 1, 2008, for much of strong showing in 2009. White also cited the June 2009 additions of milk and cream containers to the program as beneficial to Alberta's overall diversion rate.

An interactive version of the 2009 ABCRC report can be found by clicking here.

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