1. Manufacturing

Using new materials, or materials reclaimed following a container recycling process, the beverage container manufacturer produces containers, pours the beverages in, adds caps and labels and packs them for shipping. They are now ready for distribution and sale.

2. Sale to distributor or retailer

The distributor or retailer purchases the beverages (usually in bulk) and stocks their store shelves for the consumer to purchase. distribution and sale.

3. Sale to consumer

The container is sold to a consumer, which includes a deposit fee and sometimes a Container Recycling Fee, as part of the Alberta recycling process.

4. Consumption of beverage by customer

Once the consumer consumes the beverage, they are left to dispose of the empty container.

5. Beverage container disposal

At this point, the consumer has two choices:

a. Initiate the Alberta beverage container recycling process for the empty container by taking it to an Alberta Depot.
OR 
b. Place the container into the blue bin where it will be separated and returned to a depot or recycled with other plastic containers.

6. Beverage container processing

An Alberta Depot accepts the container for recycling and refunds the consumer the deposit paid. The container is shipped to a facility to be prepared for sale to recycling and commodity markets.

7. Recycled into useful materials

The beverage container is recycled into raw materials that are used to manufacture new beverage containers or other useful products.