15 Year Timeline
1990s
1995
ABCRC purchases Contain-A-Way/L.B. Container Recycling assets and commences to operate as collection system agent.
1997
BCMB established as management board for beverage container management system.
Gable top and tetra packaging is added to the regulated system.
1998
New Edmonton plant opens.
2001
Domestic beer containers regulated into beverage container management system.
Alberta sales of registered non beer containers exceeds one billion containers.
2002
ABCRC restructures to provide not for profit provisions to its governance structure and implements a visible container recycling fee (CRF).
New technology was piloted in the areas of glass handling and data transfer (electronic r-bill).
2003
ABCRC implements an internal health and safety program and receives a Certificate of Recognition.
First ever Stewartship meeting of Canadian Recycling Affiliates hosted by ABCRC in Kananaskis.
ABCRC introduces Community Champions Partner Program. 40 City of Calgary schools participate in a recycling bin pilot program.
2004
ABCRC scores 90% on first ever internal health and safety audit.
Electronic Bar Code Technology is installed at ABCRC plants to improve inventory management.
Elementary Schools Beverage Recycling Programs implemented and exceeds expectations with over 1.25 million containers returned.
2005
Junior/Senior High School Program launched, with 86 schools and 26,000 students registered in the program and more than 500,000 containers collected.
Alberta Environment, City of Edmonton, Access and ABCRC create sortitout.ca, a video and online educational program for Alberta students and educators regarding waste management.
2006
Community Champion partners begin to offer pick up service; 1.29 millions containers recycled.
Elementary Schools students choose the name MT for ABCRCs new Mascot.
Consumer advertising campaign focuses on targeting demographics that have highest disposable container numbers and encouraging recycling out of home.
2007
BCMB adopts new handling fees, based on Handling Commission Review Panel recommendations.
Over 74,000 tonnes of beverage container waste diverted from landfill.
ABCRC partners with Alberta Parks to provide over 140 bins for placement in 50 Provincial Parks across the Province.
Community Champions Partners achieves over 6.7 million containers diverted since inception.
2008
New container deposit rates effective November 1, 2008.
Industry recycling rate reaches 76%.
ABCRC launches bottle depot intranet to increase convenience of key information to the depots.
Schools program reaches 592 schools recycling almost 6.4 million containers.
ABCRC, the Government of Alberta and Department of Transportation launch the Rest Stop bin campaign, placing 150 bins along highway rest stops.
2009
June 1, 2009 – Beer containers are co-mingled with pop for a single sort and processed by ABCRC.
June 1, 2009 Milk Containers introduced to beverage container recycling system.
ABCRC invests in new baling equipment to increase plant capacity to handle new volumes.