Covy Moore/Rocky View Publishing

Airdrie Bottle Depot owners present a cheque for $2,516 to Cans for Kids, a fundraising effort that has earned more than $275,000 for the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, during the grand opening of the depot's new location, June 6.

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New Airdrie Bottle Depot 'among most efficient' in Alberta

About 100 people attended the grand opening of the Airdrie Bottle Depot’s new location, June 6.

The 6,000-square-foot facility features six return stations with software that displays the number of bottles and the total refund in real time to customers. The depot, located at 2958 Main Street S.E., also has a bin-washing station for customers.

“It feels great,” said Depot Manager Gagandeep Johal when asked how he felt about the new facility. “It took four years of our life to get to this point.”

Formerly, the 4,600-square-foot depot was located on Airdrie’s east side and included four return stations. The new location has a much roomier entrance to accommodate customers.

According to Johal, the new depot, which has 10 employees, is among the most efficient, fastest and cleanest in the province.

“We are leaders in the recycling industry in Alberta,” he said.

The chair of the Beverage Container Management Board Ross Risvold said it is good news anytime a new depot opens.

“Alberta has the most comprehensive depot system in Canada,” he said. “About 1.9 to two billion (containers) are brought back in through the system each year.”

He said consumers can return a wider variety of containers than in any other province, and Alberta depots were probably the first in the world to accept dairy containers. A number of local and provincial dignitaries including Diana McQueen, the minister of Environment and Sustainable Resources, Manmeet Bhullar, minister of Service Alberta, local MLA Rob Anderson and Mayor Peter Brown also attended the event.

McQueen said the opening is good news as it is part of a government strategy to achieve an 85 per cent return rate on containers.

The goal was set three years ago, after milk containers were brought on stream, she added.

According to McQueen, Airdrie’s depot has come close to reaching that goal.

“They are doing a very good job,” she said.

“We are certainly very proud whenever we have a new depot opening. It makes it easy for customers to come and use it, it makes a nice atmosphere… that way people want to come and recycle.”

Brown also offered his congratulations to the owners of the new location.

“I am so glad you chose Airdrie,” he said.

“It is very, very exciting for the community. If you have a dream you want to reach, this is the place to be.”