Beverage Container Fee

The Beverage Containers Act is administered by the Department of Communities, Land and Environment. Information on the registration of distributors and containers can be found under Beverage Distributor Information and Container Registration.

Under provisions of the Beverage Containers Act, the Department of Finance, Taxation and Property Records Division facilitates the collection of fees. This section provides general information on the beverage container fee including legislative authority, rate, collection and remittance requirements.  

Who collects the beverage container fee?

Anyone who sells beverages in a beverage container to retailers in PEI must register with the Environment Division of the Department of Communities, Land and Environment to become a registered distributor under the Beverage Containers Act. 

What do registered distributors do?

Registered distributors collect deposits on recyclable and refillable beverage containers on behalf of the Minister of Finance. Deposits collected must be reported and remitted to the Minister of Finance on a monthly basis.

What is the deposit rate for non-alcoholic beverage containers?

The amount of the deposit payable under section 10 of the Beverage Containers Act for a beverage container filled with a beverage other than liquor is:

• ten (10) cents for any non-dairy beverage container less than five litres.

What is the deposit rate for alcoholic beverage containers?

The amount of the deposit payable under section 10 of the Beverage Containers Act for a beverage container filled with liquor is:

• ten (10) cents if the beverage container has a capacity of 500 millilitres or less; 
• twenty (20) cents if the beverage container has a capacity of more than 500 millilitres; and
• $1.20 for each dozen refillable containers filled with beer.

How do registered distributors remit the deposits collected?

For deposits on non-alcoholic beverage containers, registered distributors must file a Registered Distributor Return for Non-alcoholic Beverage Containers form and remit the deposits on a monthly basis.

For deposits on alcoholic beverage containers, registered distributors must file a Registered Distributor Return for Alcoholic Beverage Containers form and remit the deposits on a monthly basis.

The filing and remittance deadline is 20 days after the end of every month, even if no deposit is payable.