APRA will post monthly feature articles about our members to showcase their work to improve the circular economy. In July 2025, we connected with the Beverage Container Management Board (BCMB) to highlight its products and services.
BCMB: Leading Alberta Toward a Cleaner, Greener Future—One Beverage Container at a Time
Alberta’s Beverage Container Management Board (BCMB) may not be a household name for every Albertan, but its impact is felt across the province every time someone returns a bottle or can for recycling. As a not-for-profit Delegated Administrative Organization (DAO), BCMB plays a crucial role in overseeing and regulating the province’s beverage container recycling system.
“Our mission is to protect Alberta’s environment by building and maintaining one of the most efficient and effective beverage container recycling systems in the world,” says Mark Emsden, BCMB’s President & CEO. “It’s not just about recycling—it’s about creating a system that people can trust and easily use.”
Behind the Scenes: Regulating the System
Operating under the authority of Alberta’s Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas, BCMB is empowered to administer the province’s Beverage Container Recycling Regulation (BCRR), enforcing by-laws for manufacturers, bottle depots, and the province’s Collection System Agent (CSA), Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation (ABCRC). This ensures that Alberta’s beverage container recycling system—from drop-off to processing—is streamlined, accountable, and sustainable.
But regulation is only part of the story. BCMB is also actively shaping the future of recycling in Alberta through public and stakeholder education and reducing red tape to foster innovation.
People First: Inclusion, Safety, and Education
A fundamental element to BCMB’s success is its commitment to its relationships with Albertans, industry stakeholders, and BCMB staff. Promoting opportunity, and educational outreach for is central for BCMB to strengthen Alberta’s deposit return system and elevate service.
“As a management board, we know that progress doesn’t happen in isolation,” says BCMB’s President & CEO, Mark Emsden. “We’re investing in people—because when you invest in people, they invest in the system.”
Measurable Impact—and a Growing Reach
BCMB’s results speak for themselves. With high return rates and strong system oversight, Alberta boasts the most effective beverage container recycling system in Canada and one of the strongest in North America.. This success not only encourages greater public participation but also serves as a blueprint for other provinces and regions looking to improve their systems.
To expand their reach and influence, BCMB has become an active member of the Alberta Plastics Recycling Association (APRA). This collaboration has connected the organization with key stakeholders—from policy makers and plastics manufacturers to sustainability experts and recyclers.
“Through APRA, we stay connected to emerging technologies, policy changes, and industry leaders,” notes BCMB President & CEO, Mark Emsden “It helps us stay ahead of the curve and keep pushing Alberta’s system forward.”
Eyes on the Future: Innovation and Circularity
Looking ahead, BCMB envisions a circular economy where every beverage container re-enters the supply chain instead of ending up in a landfill.
“We imagine a future where Alberta continues to be a world leader in beverage container recycling” says Mark Emsden, BCMB President & CEO. “For BCMB, this means improving convenience and accessibility by targeting system inefficiencies, introducing smart technologies, and raising public awareness about the economic and environmental benefits recycling beverage containers”
However, challenges remain. Contaminants in the recycling stream, fluctuating material prices, and changing regulations make the road ahead anything but smooth.
“Every obstacle is an opportunity for innovation,” says Mark. “We’re focused on solutions—finding new ways to recycle plastics into high-quality materials and adjusting to global market changes without compromise.”
Get Involved
A celebration that Albertans recycled billions of cans and bottles, earning the #1 spot in Canada and #2 in North America. From l to r: Kulwant Dhillon (Chair, ABDA), Ken White (Chairman, ABCRC), Lauren Faulkenberg (Chair, BCMB), Guy West (President & CEO, ABCRC), Minister Rebecca Schulz (Environment and Protected Areas, GOA)
BCMB continues to encourage all Albertans to return their beverage containers at one of Alberta’s bottle depots and participate in a system that delivers both environmental and economic benefits.
To learn more about Beverage Container Management Board, their initiatives, or Alberta’s deposit return system, please reach out to info@bcmb.ab.ca
