Strathcona Bottle Depot

turning garbage into money! what could be better!
I have gone here in the past –just returned as it is close and convenient for me. Usually when winter breaks I dust off my bike and build my green activity of returning pop bottles and cans myself. I enjoy the actual recycle process and usually get 20 – 30 dollars to spend at the save on foods afterwards.
Easter weekend I returned to recycle a big bag of bottles, I was happy they are using a computer screen to print off the total to hand in and collect $. I am sure it comes in handy for people with a truck load of bottles and cans. I found it much cleaner than before and always find the staff to be patient with all their customers.
I suggest counting the hand fulls of cans as they throw your bottles in the bins behind them. They usually throw 4 bottles at a time-​so you just need to count how many hand fulls and multiply by 4 to get a good estimate. They have usually been right.
Good for the planet, and always an interesting time when you consider the back alley collectors for strathcona, whyte ave all come here to turn their hard efforts into some spending money.

I have been going to this bottle depot for many many years because it is the one closest to my house.
Many people have complained about them short-​changing them on their bottles. Since I have read those reviews (summer 2014) I have been keeping track of my bottles that I bring in. I don’t pre-​count them but I just count along as the staff does their count. For the last 4 – 5 drop-​offs that I have had since I have not noticed any problems.
I do take a few stars off this review because the place could be kept a bit cleaner. I dropped off bottles this morning and my shoes were sticking to the floor and it wasn’t even 10am yet. I guess they could have been super-​busy and someone made a mess with their bottles but overall this place needs a good cleaning inside and out. I have been to much cleaner and nicer bottle depots.
The staff don’t talk much to you, or at least I haven’t noticed it. They seem to be all business and focused on the work.
I try to hit this place during the work day if possible. I have found that it isn’t too busy during the day. Most of the time I am able to park right out front and if I wait there is a small line-​up only. I think after regular work hours it can be busy.
A lot of the Strathcona and area bottle pickers take their hauls here so you may see people with shopping carts and bikes full of bottles. I have never had a problem with them and I actually find them very nice to the other customers. They have let me go ahead of them a number of times. They do contribute to the mess outside though. There is often empty shopping carts outside and down the alleys.
So overall I like this location for me because it is convenient and I haven’t had a problem with miscounts. I do wish they would take a bit more care in the look and feel of the place. It could use some good cleaning inside and outside to bring it up to par to some of the other bottle depots around.

This place is notorious for miscounting bottles by large margins. Before you arrive here, mark down the amount of bottles you have in each bag/​container and count the bottles with them. The staff will rip you off at every chance they get if you aren’t vigilant.

I think the place is under different management because I had a better experience in the past. The place is a dump, the bottle counters are unfriendly, and I have a feeling I got ripped off my deposit refund. I had a much better experience at other bottle depots around the city. Be cautious when you head to this one.