Beverage Containers

Beverage Containers

Why Recycle Beverage Containers

New Brunswick has had a recycling program for beverage containers since 1992. As of April 1, 2024, the program transitioned to Extended Producer Responsibility, where producers assumed responsibility for the collection, storage, transportation and recycling of their products. Consumers now receive a full refund on deposit-bearing beverage containers.


Recycling your deposit-bearing beverage containers will divert them from our provincial landfills, roadways and waterways and ultimately achieve better environmental outcomes.

For more information, please contact us at:

Email: info@recyclenb.com
Telephone: 506-454-8473
Toll Free: 1-888-322-8473

Where to Recycle

Key Program Info

Encorp Atlantic will be responsible for managing all deposit-bearing beverage containers sold in New Brunswick. According to the Designated Materials Regulation, a beverage is defined as “a ready-to-serve liquid that is intended for human consumption but does not include milk, plant-based milk product alternatives that are fortified and a source of protein, unprocessed apple cider, concentrated drinks, infant formula, meal replacements, or formulated liquid diets.”


A beverage container is defined as a sealed container that is 5 litres or less, and includes all of its component parts.

Materials accepted under the program include, but are not limited to:

  • Aluminum cans (soft drinks, alcohol, etc.)
  • PET 1 plastic, including lids/caps
  • PET 2 plastic, including lids/caps
  • Non-refillable glass (green, clear and brown)
  • Refillable beer bottles and its secondary packaging
  • Cartons (juice boxes)
  • Steel (juice cans)
  • Other plastics (drinkable yogurt, iced coffee)

For more information or a complete list of accepted containers, please contact Encorp Atlantic at:

Email: info@encorpatl.ca
Telephone: 506-389-7320
Toll-free: 1-877-389-7320
The following products are not deposit-bearing and will not be collected as part of the Beverage Container Program:

  • Milk, including cow and goat’s milk and flavoured milk.
  • Plant-based milk product alternatives that are fortified and a source of protein.
  • Unprocessed apple cider.
  • Concentrated beverages, including cocktail mixes, frozen juices, syrups, condensed milk, coffee cream, cereal cream, flavour enhancers, etc.
  • Infant formula.
  • Meal replacements.
  • Formulated liquid diets.

The Regulation also excludes:

  • Beverages in containers larger than 5L.
  • Beverages purchased outside of NB.

Please note that many of these containers can be placed in your curbside recycling bin for collection. Please check with your local Regional Service Commission for a list of accepted products.

For more information, please contact Encorp Atlantic at:

Email: info@encorpatl.ca
Telephone: 506-389-7320
Toll-free: 1-877-389-7320
New Brunswick’s Beverage Container Program ensures the responsible recycling of deposit-bearing beverage containers as identified in the Designated Materials Regulation. Brand owners have chosen Encorp Atlantic to operate the program on their behalf.

Encorp Atlantic sets the Container Recycling Fee (CRF) for all deposit-bearing beverage containers in New Brunswick. Fees vary according to the type of beverage container and cover the cost of collection, transportation and recycling. Industry may absorb the CRF or pass it on to the consumer by including it in the advertised price of the product. The CRF is not a tax and is not collected by government.

For more information, please contact Encorp Atlantic at:
Email: info@encorpatl.ca
Telephone: 506-389-7320
Toll-free: 1-877-389-732
A stewardship plan shall apply to the manufacture, storage, collection, transportation, processing or other handling of beverage containers that are sold, offered for sale or distributed within the Province. For more details, please see the approved stewardship plan, which expires on December 31, 2027.

About the Program

The Government of New Brunswick has amended the Designated Materials Regulation under the Clean Environment Act to establish an Extended Producer Responsibility program for beverage containers in New Brunswick. The Regulation, dated March 29, 2023, sets out the requirements for the program.

As the agency responsible for designated materials in New Brunswick, Recycle NB will oversee the beverage container program. Industry brand owners chose Encorp Atlantic to manage the program in New Brunswick.

Encorp Atlantic will be responsible for managing the recycling of all deposit-bearing beverage containers sold in New Brunswick. It will work with producers, retailers and redemption centres to promote and educate consumers about the program, with a goal of increasing recovery rates for used beverage containers.

On April 1, 2024, as per the Designated Materials Regulation, the Beverage Container Program transitioned from a half-back deposit system to a full-back, which means that consumers receive a 100% refund on deposit-bearing beverage containers. For more information, please contact Encorp Atlantic at:

Email: info@encorpatl.ca
Telephone: 506-389-7320
Toll-free: 1-877-389-7320

RNB
1-888-322-8473
Copyright © 2025 Recycle NB. All rights reserved.
RNB

1-888-322-8473
Copyright © 2025 Recycle NB.
All rights reserved.