Pioneering Home Pickup Recycling in Alberta with our DRS Innovation

Our Approach

Operating under Alberta’s container deposit system, ABCRC and the BCMB faced a familiar challenge: modernize public participation in recycling while maintaining compliance, traceability, and depot accountability. Static infrastructure and depot-only returns created friction for consumers - especially in rural areas, high-density urban zones, and among users with mobility or access constraints. Alberta needed a more accessible, technology-driven solution that could meet compliance standards while scaling across diverse user types and geographies.

LT3 DRS provided the foundation behind SkipTheDepot - a mobile-first return platform enabling mobile pickups, real-time refund tracking, and digital donation options. The system supports end-to-end container tracking, with secure route assignments, refund reconciliation, and fraud protection - all in compliance with BCMB audit and reporting standards. Drop & Go functionality within the app extended flexibility to users preferring contactless depot returns, linking physical drop-offs with mobile user accounts. This unified, cloud-based infrastructure brought a high-convenience, low-friction alternative to Alberta’s return landscape, empowering both system administrators and everyday users.

The Result

Since launch, SkipTheDepot has processed over 100 million containers and now serves a growing base of more than 100,000 customers across Alberta. Its integrated donation feature has raised over $2.8 million for charities, making it not only a recycling tool but a powerful fundraising engine for local communities. Backed by LT3 DRS, the platform ensures full audit readiness, traceability, and scalable deployment - all while expanding access and convenience. SkipTheDepot continues to reshape the province’s deposit-return ecosystem, proving that mobile-first infrastructure can drive both recovery rates and citizen engagement in regulated recycling programs.