How much can a bottle drive raise? An honest look for NW Calgary schools, teams and charities

There's no limit on how much a bottle drive can raise. At Sage Hill, most drives raise about $600 to $3,000 each, and in 2025 the drives run with us raised more than $100,000 for local groups. Your total comes down to how many containers your supporters bring in: Alberta pays 10¢ for each eligible container of 1 litre or less and 25¢ for each one over 1 litre. For schools, teams and charities across NW Calgary, setup is free, we supply the cube bags and trailers, and there's no product to buy, so every dollar collected goes to your group.

Want to start now? Set up a free bottle drive → · Read the step-by-step how-to →

How much can a bottle drive raise?

There's no cap. At Sage Hill, most bottle drives raise about $600 to $3,000 each, and some groups keep collecting well past that with an ongoing account. Where your drive lands comes down to two numbers: how many containers your supporters bring and what sizethey are. Alberta's deposit schedule sets the refund on every eligible drink container:

Source: ABCRC Alberta Deposit & CRF Schedule, effective Feb 1, 2026. Full list: refunds & pricing.

Work backwards from your goal (illustration only)

Illustration only. These numbers are simple arithmetic using the ABCRC deposit rates (10¢ / 25¢). They are not results from any real drive and don't set a limit. For real results, see the $600–$3,000 range above.

Turn it into supporters (illustration only)

Illustration only, with assumptions stated. Say one household gives 100 small containers and 10 large ones. That's $10.00 + $2.50 = $12.50 per household.

Every group's numbers will differ, and there's no ceiling. The point is that reach and repeat giving matter more than anything else. That's why we give every group an ongoing account: your supporters can keep giving for months, not just on one Saturday. Illustrative:if the same 40 households gave once a month for four months, that's 160 gifts × $12.50 = $2,000.

What actually moves the number

• More supporters:families in your school, players' relatives, your congregation, your club's members, their neighbours and co-workers.
• More time: an ongoing account lets you collect over a season or a whole school year.
• Good timing: ask after times when many households have extra empties, like Thanksgiving, Halloween parties, the December holidays, playoff parties and summer barbecues.
• Easy giving: supporters don't need to sort anything. They drop off mixed bags or boxes and say your group's nameat the depot, and it's credited to you.

Is a bottle drive worth it?

For most schools, teams, clubs and charities, yes, if you have people who drink canned or bottled drinks and a bit of time.Here's the honest version:

Why groups like it

• Free to run: no setup fee, no product order and no cut taken. We provide cube bags and trailers as part of the free setup.
• Anyone can help: supporters give something they were going to return anyway, so asking for empties is easier than asking for money.
• Flexible: run it as a one-day event, host it in our big lot at 70 Sage Hill Plaza NW, or keep an account open for months.
• Fast payout: we pay your group within one week of the drive closing, by cheque or e-Transfer.

What to plan for

• Each container is worth 10¢ or 25¢, so you need volume. Most Sage Hill drives land around $600–$3,000. Use the goal table above to plan for yours.
• You'll do your own promotion.We don't print flyers or posters. Your newsletter, team chat or social post does the job (see what to include below).
• Someone has to coordinate: pick a contact person who books the drive and tells supporters where and when to give.

Bottle drives vs other fundraiser ideas

Stack them. Many groups run a bottle drive alongside their main fundraiser. The drive keeps quietly adding money in the background while the event or product sale does the heavy lifting.

Bottle drive ideas by group

Schools and parent councils: Open an ongoing account in September and keep it going all school year. Remind families after each long weekend. Ask about a cube bag at the school for families who'd rather drop off there. → How-to: pick the format that fits

Minor hockey, soccer and other sports teams: Kick off the season with a drive day in our lot, then keep the account open for families to add to all season. For collecting from several homes, the trailer is part of the free setup.

Charities and non-profits:Ask supporters to drop off any time and say your organization's name. It's easy to promote in a newsletter and doesn't need volunteers on site.

Clubs, Scouts and Guides, church groups and university clubs:Tie a drive to a specific goal ("bottles for our camp fees") so supporters can see what their empties pay for.

Who can run a drive with us

Schools, teams, clubs and charities from right around the depot, in Sage Hill, Evanston, Kincora, Nolan Hill, Sherwood and the Symons Valley area, can run a bottle drive with us. So can groups from across the rest of NW Calgary: east toward Carrington, Livingston and Panorama Hills, south through Hidden Valley, the Hamptons and Edgemont, and southwest toward Royal Oak, Rocky Ridge, Tuscany and Citadel. Hold your drive in our big lot at 70 Sage Hill Plaza NW, or have supporters collect at home and drop off whenever it suits them. Either way, they just say your group's name and it's credited to your drive.

What to put on your flyer or post

We don't make flyers, but here's everything your supporters need in one message:

1. Who it's for and why:"Help the [group] raise money for [goal]."
2. Where: Sage Hill Bottle Depot, 70 Sage Hill Plaza NW, Calgary, or your cube bag location.
3. When: your drive date, or "any time until [date]" for an ongoing account. Depot hours: Mon–Sat 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM, Sun 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM (holiday hours).
4. How to give: "No sorting needed. Say [group name]when you drop off."
5. What counts: cans, bottles, drink boxes, cartons, pouches and milk jugs. Not cooking oil, condiment, syrup or cleaning bottles. (Full list)

Ready to set a goal?

Setting up a bottle drive with Sage Hill is free.Tell us your group, your goal and your preferred dates, and we'll call within one business day to help you choose a format.

Set up your free bottle drive → · Call (403) 275-7003 · How to run a bottle drive (step by step)

Running a business or event with regular volume instead? See commercial & event pickup.