Calgary man pays too much. Alberta takes action.

Starting in August, Alberta’s government is shifting the recycling of automotive fluid containers from the Hazardous and Special Products program to the long-established used oil recycling program. This will lower the eco fees paid to manage these products at end of life, while still achieving our recycling goals – lower costs for the same results. This will allow more automotive fluid containers to be properly collected and recycled instead of being sent to landfill.

“Adam Thatcher spoke up after paying too much at Walmart, and I want to thank him for raising the concern. Albertans should not be hit with runaway recycling fees at the till. We looked into the issue, reviewed the options and took action to find a better way to recycle these containers for less. We can protect the environment and keep costs low, and that is exactly what we are doing.”

In October 2025, Alberta worked with the organization responsible for these products to reduce the fee on windshield washer fluid containers of up to four litres from $2.20 to $0.60. Despite that direction, Calgary man Adam Thatcher was charged $2.20 on a $4.98 jug at Walmart. After he raised the issue with a local media outlet, Alberta’s government contacted the organization to determine why the lower fee had not been applied and launched a broader review.

“Alberta has long been a leader in effective, innovative recycling solutions. Expanding the Used Oil Recycling Program to include additional materials reflects the province’s evolving marketplace and will keep valuable resources out of landfills while strengthening Alberta’s circular economy.”

That review found the products could be managed through an established stewardship program at a significantly lower cost. The recycling fee for windshield washer fluid containers will drop to $0.12 per litre of container capacity. For a four-litre jug, that means a fee of $0.48 instead of the $2.20 charge that prompted public concern. Recycling is not one-size-fits-all. Alberta uses several approaches to achieve strong environmental outcomes, and government’s role is to ensure those systems are efficient, properly overseen and affordable. In this case, Adam Thatcher held the system accountable, Alberta’s government listened, and action was taken.

“I went to Walmart for washer fluid, not sticker shock. When I saw the recycling fee was nearly half the price of the jug itself, I knew something didn’t seem right. I spoke up, the government looked into it, and now the fee is coming down. That’s a positive result for everyday Albertans who just want to buy a basic product without unnecessary costs.”

Affordability is a constant focus for Alberta’s government. Environmental handling fees are set by companies or by organizations that operate recycling programs and while Alberta’s government does not collect these fees, it sets the rules, oversees the system, and acts when costs are unreasonable or recycling can be delivered more efficiently.

Related information

• Recycling Depot Finder

Key Facts

• The fee rate for windshield washer fluid containers will be $0.12 per litre of container size. A four-litre jug will carry a $0.48 fee.
• Alberta’s used oil recycling program has been recovering and recycling automotive materials since 1997.
• The maximum accepted container size is also being increased from 30 litres to 50 litres, allowing thousands more containers to be recycled each year.
• Windshield wiper fluid, diesel exhaust fluid and antifreeze (coolant) and their containers are being added to the used oil recycling program.