blog how skipthedepot turned bottle refunds into 3 million for alberta charities

How SkipTheDepot Turned Bottle Refunds into $3 Million for Alberta Charities

SkipTheDepot customers have donated over $3 million in recycling refunds to more than 2,700 Alberta charities, schools, and community organizations, proving that everyday recycling can drive real social impact.

What Is SkipTheDepot?

SkipTheDepot is a pickup service that collects bottles, cans, electronics, and clothing directly from your home. Refunds can be kept or automatically donated to a charity of your choice.

How Your Recycling Supports Alberta Charities

Albertans have transformed their recycling into meaningful change:

$3 million donated to community organizations
115 million containers recycled and kept out of landfills
6 million kilograms of waste diverted from landfill
11 million kilograms of greenhouse gases prevented
38 million kWh of energy saved

Every pickup, worth an average of $25 in refunds, adds up to major community impact:

Charity / Organization	Example of Impact
Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids	$4 provides one school lunch
Calgary Public Library Foundation	$30 supplies a child’s reading program
Kids Up Front Calgary	$50 gives a child an event ticket
Inn from the Cold	$100 provides a family with shelter for one night
Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society	$200 funds spay/neuter surgery for an animal in need

How SkipTheDepot Works

Book a Pickup – Schedule through the SkipTheDepot website, or download the app on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Choose to Keep or Donate – Select a charity or keep your refund.
We Collect and Process – SkipTheDepot handles pickup, counting, and processing.
Funds Deposited – Refunds go directly to you or the chosen organization.

SkipTheDepot vs. Traditional Bottle Drives

Traditional Drives	SkipTheDepot
Requires volunteers and transportation	Pickups are handled for you
Limited to occasional events	Works year-round
Manual cash handling	Digital, automatic donations
Local only	Province-wide reach

“This $3 million milestone shows how easy it is for Albertans to turn everyday recycling into much-needed fundraising dollars,” said James Trask, CEO of SkipTheDepot.

“The platform is intuitive and has helped us raise funds effortlessly, making a real difference without straining our resources,” said Jasmine Long, Volunteer at Rescue Friends Animal Foundation.

Where We Operate

SkipTheDepot currently serves:
Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Banff, Canmore, and surrounding areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What items can I recycle with SkipTheDepot?
A: Bottles, cans, electronics, and clothing are accepted for pickup.

Q: How do I set up fundraising for my organization?
A: Create a free organization account on the SkipTheDepot website. Share your donation link so supporters can direct their refunds to your cause.

Join the Next Million in Donations

Every bag, every pickup, and every donation strengthens Alberta communities. Book your next pickup and choose to donate your refund to a cause that matters.

Visit SkipTheDepot.com or download the SkipTheDepot app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.