What can I get a refund for?
The containers from ALL ready-to-drink beverage products for which you paid a deposit at purchase in PEI qualify.
- water
- fruit/vegetable juices
- soda/soft drinks
- milkshakes
- drinkable yogurt/kefir
- eggnog
- iced coffee/tea
- kombucha
- most plant-based milk product alternatives (see exception below)
- energy drinks
- protein shakes
- electrolyte beverages
- beer
- wine
- spirits
- ciders
- coolers
- cannabis beverages
- etc.
Exclusions
(Not part of the program – no deposit charged at purchase)
MILK (COW/GOAT) AND FLAVOURED MILK
On the label: Fat-free/skim milk (0% M.F.), partly skimmed milk (1% or 2% M.F.), or whole/homogenized milk (3.25% M.F.).
PLANT-BASED MILK PRODUCT ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE FORTIFIED AND A SOURCE OF PROTEIN
On the label: Must state beverage is “Fortified”. Must also not have any warning about the beverage being “Not a Source of Protein”. (Most often, these are soy or cashew beverages.)
UNPROCESSED APPLE CIDER
On the label: No mention of being heated, pasteurized or otherwise processed.
CONCENTRATED BEVERAGES
The product is not “ready-to-drink”. It has to be mixed in or diluted prior to drinking. (Ex.: cocktail mixes, frozen juices, syrups, condensed milk, coffee cream, cereal cream, flavour enhancers, etc.)
INFANT FORMULA
On the label: “Infant Formula”.
MEAL REPLACEMENTS & FORMULATED LIQUID DIETS
On the label: “Meal Replacement” or “Formulated Liquid Diet”.
BEVERAGES IN CONTAINERS LARGER THAN 5 L
Only beverages up to a maximum of 5 L are deposit-bearing.
BEVERAGES PURCHASED OUTSIDE PEI
On the label: Information is not bilingual (English and French), “Return for Refund” is missing, or volume is indicated in imperial (“oz”) instead of metric (“ml” / “L”).
IF YOU CAN'T DRINK IT, THERE'S NOT DEPOSIT ON IT.
How Can I Be Sure a Beverage Container Is Deposit-Bearing?
When you buy a drink, you can check your receipt for the deposit, which should be listed as either 10 or 20 cents. If you paid a deposit on the beverage product, you can return its empty container for a deposit refund at any designated used beverage container return location in PEI. Please also note that you must have purchased the beverage product in PEI.
What Do I Do With Other Containers?
Only deposit-bearing beverage containers are eligible for a deposit refund. Beverage containers that are not deposit-bearing, along with all other recyclable materials, should be placed curbside in blue bags on designated recycling days or taken to a Waste Watch Drop-Off Centre in accordance with Island Waste Management Corporation guidelines.
WHERE DO I TAKE MY EMPTIES FOR A REFUND?
Collect your used beverage containers at home in a bin or bag. Bring them to your nearest designated return location to get back full refunds on the deposits you paid when you bought your beverages.