Find Your Nearest Enviro-Depot™
Containers recycled since 1996
About the program
Established in 1996 under Nova Scotia’s Solid Waste Resource Management Regulations, the Beverage Container Deposit-Refund Program is operated by Divert NS and applies to most ready-to-serve beverage containers. Locally owned Enviro-Depots across the province collect containers and issue refunds, after which materials are processed at Divert NS’s Kemptown facility and shipped for recycling into new products, including new beverage containers.
Your role in 3 simple steps
Refundable containers
Learn more about how to prepare your containers for recycling, what is NOT accepted, and what happens to them after drop-off.
Aluminium Beverage Cans
Plastic Beverage Containers
Glass Beverage Bottles
Gable Top Beverages
Tetra Pak® Beverage Cartons
Steel Beverage Cans
Recycling beverage containers through Enviro-Depots delivers measurable environmental, economic, and community benefits across Nova Scotia.
Rescues and preserves high-quality resources that could otherwise end up in landfill
Since 1996, Divert NS has recycled over 9 billion beverage containers, which has saved 217,886 cubic metres of landfill space (equal to 87 Olympic-sized swimming pools!)
Since inception, Divert NS beverage program has saved 978,065 tonnes of CO₂e emissions, which is the equivalent to removing 212,623 cars from the road for one year and is valued at approximately $78,245,000 under current carbon pricing.
Drives meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
Creates local jobs and stimulates the circular economy in Nova Scotia
Since the beginning of the program, it's estimated that the beverage container program has led to the creation of over 19,000 positions and generated approximately 645 million in wages.
Over 70% of the revenue earned from the environmental fees and sale of recyclable materials from the program is given back to municipalities, which, since inception, has enabled the diversion of 3 million tonnes of organic waste and 1 million tonnes of recyclable materials from landfill.
Enables waste diversion throughout the province
When you return your empty containers to an Enviro-Depot™, you receive your refund in the following amounts:
| Container Type | Deposit Paid | Refund |
|---|---|---|
| Non-alcohol less than 5L | 10¢ | 5¢ |
| Alcohol 500ml or less | 10¢ | 5¢ |
| Alcohol greater than 500ml | 20¢ | 10¢ |
*The Brewers Association is responsible for the domestic beer bottle deposit program (not Divert NS). Under their program, the deposit for refillable domestic beer bottles is fully refundable ($1.20/dozen).
Become a beverage distributor
All beverage distributors (regardless of location) must register with Divert NS before selling beverages in Nova Scotia. To register with Divert NS please contact info@divertns.ca.