Are juice boxes and drink pouches refundable in Alberta? (Yes, here's how)

Yes. Juice boxes, gable-top cartons and foil drink pouches of 1 litre or less each pay a 10¢ deposit in Alberta. At Sage Hill Bottle Depot (70 Sage Hill Plaza NW), bring them mixed with your cans and bottles, no sorting, and we pay the full deposit.

Quick facts — Sage Hill Bottle Depot · 70 Sage Hill Plaza NW, Calgary, AB T3R 0S4 · (403) 275-7003 · Mon–Sat 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM · Sun 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM · Stat holidays 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM · Location & hours

Quick answer

If it is a ready-to-drink juice box, drink carton or foil pouch sold in Alberta with a deposit mark, it is refundable. Under Alberta's deposit program, containers 1 litre or less (including most juice boxes and drink pouches) pay 10¢. Drink boxes and gable-top cartons over 1 litre pay 25¢. The full rate table is on our refunds & pricing page.

Juice boxes and pouches

These are the ones people often leave in the recycling bin by mistake:

• Drink boxes and gable-top cartons (juice, milk alternatives, and similar cartons): 10¢ at 1 litre or less, 25¢ over 1 litre.
• Drink pouches (foil pouches such as Capri-Sun-style packs): 10¢.

Mixed bags are fine. You do not need to rinse for us to take them, and you do not need to sort pouches from cans. We count every eligible container at your counter (walk-in) or after you leave (valet).

Rates from the ABCRC Alberta Deposit & CRF Schedule, effective February 1, 2026. Confirm at the counter if anything looks out of date.

Party cans and bottles

Halloween parties (and Thanksgiving leftovers) usually leave aluminum cans and glass or plastic bottles too. Eligible cans and bottles of 1 litre or less also pay 10¢; larger bottles and jugs pay 25¢. Toss them in the same bag as the juice boxes. For the full list of what counts, see refunds & pricing.

What isn't refundable

These are notpart of Alberta's deposit program and we cannot take them:

• Fruit purée squeeze packs
• Cooking oil and vinegar bottles, condiments, syrup containers, cleaning products
• Containers with no UPC or Alberta deposit mark
• Broken or heavily contaminated containers
• Containers bought outside Alberta (for example, BC)

If you are unsure, bring it in and we will check the mark at the counter.

Returning them in NW Calgary

Sage Hill is a bottle depot in NW Calgary at 70 Sage Hill Plaza NW. Walk in during open hours, or book a valet drop-off and stay in your car. Walk-in customers collect cash from the in-depot ATM; valet customers get Interac e-Transfer within 48 hours.

If you are coming from Evanston or Nolan Hill, take Symons Valley Road south to Sage Hill Road and turn into the plaza. Directions and hours. On Thanksgiving Monday (October 12, 2026) we are open 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM, the same as other Alberta statutory holidays, and valet runs that day too (holiday hours).

Want the free loyalty stamps while you are here? Ask about the Hero Card at the counter.

Ready to drop off?

Walk in any time during business hours, or book a valet drop-off and stay in your car. Questions? Call (403) 275-7003.

Related: Refunds & pricing · Valet drop-off · Bottle depot NW Calgary · Location & hours

Rates are set under Alberta's deposit program (ABCRC deposit schedule, BCMB). Confirm details at the counter if anything looks out of date.