Bottle Drives
Turn your community's empties into a cause worth raising.
Free bottle drive setup for schools, charities, sports teams, and community groups. We handle the logistics — your group keeps every cent.
Free to set up — we handle the logistics.
What is a bottle drive?
Fundraising that costs nothing to start.
A bottle drive is one of Alberta's most powerful community fundraising tools. Your supporters donate the empties they were going to recycle anyway. You collect them, bring them to us, and we pay out every 10¢ and 25¢ deposit directly to your group.
No product to sell. No upfront cost. No complicated setup. Just containers turned into community funding.
Zero cost to your group. We provide everything — space, bags, trailer — at no charge.
Who qualifies
- Schools and parent councils
- Minor hockey, soccer, and sports associations
- Registered charities and non-profits
- Church groups and community organizations
- Scout and guide troops
- University and college clubs
- Event fundraisers and one-time campaigns
Communities across NW Calgary fundraise with Sage Hill every year.
How it works
Three ways to run your drive.
Choose the format that fits your group's size, timeline, and how much lifting you want us to do.
Dedicated Drop-Off Point
We set up a reserved drop-off space at our depot specifically for your drive. You promote it to your supporters, they drop containers directly at our location, and we track everything for your group. No logistics on your end.
Cube Bag at Your Location
We deliver a large cube bag to your school, church, or community space. Your supporters fill it at their convenience. Once it's full, we arrange pickup or you drop it back. Great for ongoing fundraisers.
Trailer Rental
Need to collect from multiple locations or run a large-scale drive? Rent our trailer and collect containers from your supporters directly. Perfect for sports teams, large charities, or events.
Ready to set up your drive?
Send your request and we'll call within one business day to plan the next step.
Get started
Tell us about your drive.
Send us your preferred date, time, and setup. We'll call within one business day to review availability and help you choose the right option.
FAQ
Bottle drive questions, answered.
What is a bottle drive?
A bottle drive is a fundraising campaign where your organization collects refundable bottles, cans, and containers from your supporters and redeems them at a depot. The full refund amount goes directly to your group. It's one of the most accessible, zero-cost fundraising methods in Alberta.
How much can we realistically raise?
It depends on your network and how long you run the drive. Small school drives regularly raise $500–$2,000. Larger community drives with cube bags or trailers can raise $5,000 or more. With every 10¢ and 25¢ adding up, volume is your friend.
Is there a cost to set up a bottle drive with Sage Hill?
No. Our bottle drive service is completely free. We provide the infrastructure — space, cube bags, or trailer — at no charge to your organization. We want to help your community raise money, not take a cut of it.
How long does it take to receive our payout?
We process your containers and issue payment within one week of the drive closing. Payment is made by cheque or e-Transfer depending on your preference.
Do supporters need to sort their containers?
No sorting required from your supporters. They can drop bags or boxes of mixed containers and we handle the counting and sorting on our end.
Can we run an ongoing bottle drive, not just a one-time event?
Absolutely. The cube bag option is especially well-suited for ongoing collection. We can arrange regular pickup schedules so your fundraiser runs continuously throughout the year.
How do we get started?
Contact us by phone at (403) 275-7003 or email hello@sagehillbottledepot.ca and we'll help you choose the right option for your group, set up your drive, and get you started quickly.
Do you serve areas outside Sage Hill and Nolan Hill?
Yes. While we're based in Sage Hill, our bottle drive services and trailer rental cover NW Calgary and surrounding communities including Evanston, Kincora, Sherwood, and beyond.