Return-It

What Return-It does

Return-It is British Columbia's regulated beverage container deposit-return system, operated by Encorp Pacific (Canada), a federally incorporated not-for-profit product stewardship corporation headquartered in Burnaby, BC. Founded in 1994, the company runs a province-wide network of Return-It Depots, Express drop-off locations, and 24/7 self-service Express & GO stations that allow consumers to return empty beverage containers for deposit refunds (typically 10¢ per container) plus applicable Container Recycling Fees. The system accepts over a dozen container types including aluminum cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, drink boxes, gable tops, bi-metal cans, drink pouches, and bag-in-box containers.

The core product is the Return-It Express system (launched 2018), which lets consumers drop off unsorted containers in clear bags at Express locations for credit to their online accounts, refundable via Interac e-Transfer (minimum $10) or cheque. The system is supported by a mobile app (iOS/Android) featuring Google Maps depot discovery, account management, automatic charity donations, and Express & GO PIN access. AI-based computer vision counting technology processes up to 600 containers per minute and has been deployed at the new Grandview Vancouver depot. Supplementary programs include Express for Fundraisers (charity accounts), Bottle Drives (community fundraising), Return-It School (K-12 educational outreach with annual contests), and electronics/large appliances recycling operated under EPRA stewardship.

Return-It's business model is funded through Container Recycling Fees charged to producers (covering net recycling costs after unredeemed deposits and commodity revenues), consumer deposits remitted at point of purchase and refunded at return, and contract stewardship fees (notably for EPRA electronics). The company is explicitly not funded by tax dollars or government. Logistics including collection, sorting, transportation, and processing are outsourced to contractors across the depot operator network. As of 2026, the Express system alone has processed over one billion beverage containers, demonstrating operational scale across BC's regions.

Name

Return-It

Legal name

Encorp Pacific (Canada)

Website

https://return-it.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Return-It is British Columbia's regulated beverage container deposit-return system, operated by Encorp Pacific (Canada), a not-for-profit product stewardship corporation serving BC consumers through a province-wide depot network, Express drop-off locations, and AI-powered recycling technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beverage Container Recycling Services

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE)

Keywords

• Beverage container recycling
• Deposit return system
• Product stewardship services
• Electronics recycling program
• Container deposit refund

Headquarters

HQ city

Burnaby

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Container Recycling Fees (CRF): Variable fees charged to cover the net cost of recycling each beverage container type. The CRF covers net recycling costs after unredeemed deposits and commodity revenues are applied. Return-It is not funded by tax dollars or government.
2. Beverage Container Deposits: Deposits are charged when beverage containers are purchased in British Columbia and returned in full when containers are brought back for recycling. The minimum deposit levels are set through BC Government regulation.
3. Stewardship Services for EPRA: Encorp provides stewardship services on a contract basis to Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA) for electronics recycling programs in BC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Return-It operates British Columbia's beverage container deposit-return system, accepting empty beverage containers (aluminum cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, drink boxes, gable tops, bi-metal cans, drink pouches, bag-in-a-box, and alcohol containers) at a province-wide network of independently owned depots and refunding consumer deposits. The flagship Return-It Express service enables consumers to drop off unsorted containers in clear bags for credit to online accounts, refundable via e-transfer or cheque. Express & GO self-service kiosks extend access to 24/7 drop-off via mobile app PIN codes. The organization also operates electronics and large appliances recycling programs through partnerships.

Product overview

Return-It is a British Columbia beverage container deposit-return system operated by Encorp Pacific (Canada), a not-for-profit product stewardship corporation. The core offering consists of Return-It Express (bag-drop service with online account tracking) and Return-It Express & GO (24/7 self-service kiosks), both supported by the Return-It mobile app. These are supplemented by specialized programs including Express for Fundraisers (charity donation accounts), Bottle Drives (community fundraising), Return-It School (educational outreach), and Electronics/Large Appliances recycling. The system accepts over a dozen beverage container types ranging from aluminum cans to bag-in-box wine, with deposits starting at 10 cents and Container Recycling Fees varying by material.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Return-It Express: A faster, easier system for returning drink containers without sorting, line-ups, or handling cash. Users place containers into clear bags and drop them at Express locations where the deposit refunds are credited to their online account.
• Return-It Express & GO
• Return-It School
• Express for Fundraisers
• Return-It Gang Characters

Products and services

• Return-It Express The flagship service allowing consumers to drop off unsorted beverage containers in clear/transparent bags at Express locations where they are weighed and counted, with deposits credited to the user's online account for refund via e-Transfer or cheque. No sorting, no line-ups, no cash handling required.
• Return-It Express & GO Self-service kiosk stations available 24/7 that allow users to scan their app and deposit beverage containers without depot staff assistance. Access is granted via a mobile app PIN code at the kiosk.
• Return-It App Mobile application for iOS and Android that enables users to manage Express accounts, set automatic donations to charities, track refund history, redeem funds, and locate nearby depots using GPS and Google Maps integration.
• Beverage Container Recycling Core beverage container deposit-return service accepting various container types including aluminum cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, drink boxes, gable tops, bi-metal cans, drink pouches, bag-in-a-box, and alcohol containers for deposit refunds.
• Electronics Recycling End-of-life electronics recycling program operated under EPRA (Electronic Products Recycling Association) stewardship, accepting various electronic waste items for proper disposal in British Columbia.
• Large Appliances Recycling Recycling service for end-of-life large household appliances, providing consumers with a proper disposal channel for bulky end-of-life items.
• Express for Fundraisers, Groups or Businesses Charity account feature enabling registered charities, schools, sports teams, and non-profits to receive automatic donations of deposit refunds from supporters who link their Express accounts to the organization, enabling passive year-round fundraising.
• Bottle Drives Community fundraising program allowing groups to collect and return beverage containers for refunds. Supports both traditional over-the-counter returns and Return-It Express drop-off methods for bottle drive campaigns.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 480 million containers recycled in comparable schemes (ACT Container Deposit Scheme reference)

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReturn-It partnered with PNE to promote sustainability at Playland amusement park. Launched 'Roll-a-Ball' game where guests race Return-It Gang characters. Created recycling message banners, 60 directional signages, and new PNE bin labels featuring Return-It characters and milk containers.
• Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEncorp Pacific provides stewardship services on a contract basis to EPRA for electronics recycling programs in British Columbia. Return-It Electronics is BC's first electronic waste recycling program.
• Recycle BCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Recycle BC for packaging and printed paper recycling services. Some Return-It locations accept Recycle BC materials including printed paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, plastic bags and overwrap.
• BC Brewers Recycled Container Council (BRCCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRCCC handles refillable beer bottles and some aluminum alcohol containers not managed by Encorp Pacific, covered under BRCCC's Stewardship Plan.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Recycle BC: BC's residential packaging and printed paper recycling program operated by the Canadian Stewardship Services for Plastics (CSSP) partnership. Operates in the same province with overlapping depot footprint and complementary recycling mandate.
• Container Exchange (Australia) / Exchange for Change: Operator of beverage container deposit schemes across Australian states (e.g., NSW Return and Earn). Comparable stewardship-body model managing a DRS with depot and reverse-vending network.
• Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation (ABCRC): Not-for-profit operator of Alberta's beverage container recycling system. Comparable product stewardship mandate, depot network, and CRF/deposit funding model, but serving a different Canadian province.
• Encorp Atlantic: Not-for-profit beverage container stewardship body for the Atlantic provinces of Canada. Same Encorp family model of province-level DRS operation, but serving a different geography.

Direct peers

• TOMRA: Global leader in reverse vending machines and collection solutions used in deposit-return schemes worldwide. TOMRA's RVM technology and DRS operating systems are functionally analogous to Return-It's AI-based counting and Express network, and TOMRA also partners with stewardship organizations across jurisdictions.
• Re-turn (Deposit Return Scheme Ireland): Operator of Ireland's national beverage container deposit-return scheme. Directly comparable to Return-It as a designated stewardship body running a nationwide DRS with automated returns and digital refunds.
• BC Brewers Recycled Container Council (BRCCC): BC-based stewardship body handling refillable beer bottles and certain alcohol containers. Direct overlap with Return-It in BC beverage stewardship, with explicit division of container categories.
• RVM Systems / Envipco: Provider of reverse vending machines and automated container handling systems for deposit-return schemes in North America and Europe. Technology-comparable to Return-It's AI-based counting platform and a potential partner or competitor for DRS digitization.

Others

• Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA): Canadian electronics stewardship organization for which Encorp Pacific provides contract stewardship services in BC. Comparable in operating model as a stewardship body, but in the electronics stream rather than beverage containers.

Broad incumbents

• Sidel (Tetra Pak): Large incumbent in beverage packaging and collection technology with DRS-adjacent offerings. Broad portfolio player that competes in container handling, sorting, and processing technology that underpins DRS infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EncorpPacific
• Facebookfacebook.com/returnitgang
• Instagraminstagram.com/return_it
• TikToktiktok.com/@return_it_
• Xx.com/return_it
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/encorp-pacific-canada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Return-It