Beverage Containers
Recycling Is Working
Nova Scotians recycle approximately 330 million beverage containers each year through Enviro-Depots and municipal recycling programs. Approximately 80% of beverage containers sold in Nova Scotia are recycled.
Deposit-Refund Program
Nova Scotia’s Deposit-Refund Program for beverage containers came into effect in 1996.
The program applies to all ready-to-serve beverage containers purchased in Nova Scotia but excludes:
- Milk or milk products
- Soya and rice drinks
- Certain meal replacements
- Formulated liquid diets
- Baby formulas
- Beverage concentrates
- Wine making kits
How It Works
When consumers purchase ready-to-serve beverage containers, they pay a deposit.
Consumers can then return those containers to
an ENVIRO-DEPOT™ for a refund
| Container Type* | Deposit Paid | Refund |
| Non-liquor less than 5L | 10 cents | 5 cents |
| Liquor 500ml or less | 10 cents | 5 cents |
| Liquor greater than 500ml | 20 cents | 10 cents |
* The domestic beer bottle deposit program is administered by the
Brewers Association, not Divert NS. Deposits on refillable domestic
beer bottles are fully refundable: $1.20 per dozen
Return For Refund
Labels on • Rinse containers • Do not crush containers • Caps on Recycle milk and food containers through your municipal recycling program
Tetra Pak® Beverage Cartons
- Juice
- Health, energy and diet drinks
- NO milk, soya or rice drinks
- NO milkshakes
- NO concentrates
Aluminum Beverage Cans
- Juice
- Health, energy and diet drinks
- Pop/soft drinks
- Alcohol
Plastic Beverage Containers
- Juice
- Health, energy and diet drinks
- Pop/soft drinks
- Water
- Alcohol
- Mini sip bags
- NO milk or milk products
- NO meal replacements
Glass Beverage Bottles
- Juice
- Health, energy and diet drinks
- Pop/soft drinks
- Water
- Alcohol and imported beer
Steel Beverage Cans
- Juice
- Health, energy and diet drinks
- NO food cans
- NO meal replacements
Gable Top Beverage Cartons
- Juice
- Health, energy and diet drinks
- NO milk, soya or rice drinks