Frequently Asked Questions

We understand people may have questions about this new initiative. Diabetes Canada relies on the generosity of Canadians to help fund important diabetes research, education, programs, services and advocacy for the more than 4 million Canadians diagnosed with diabetes.

Through National Diabetes Trust’s existing home collection service, we are piloting the collection of empty beer and cooler cans in York Region, Ontario. The refundable deposit value from donated cans will help raise much-needed funds for Diabetes Canada, while also helping to ensure the cans are recycled and kept out of landfill.

Participation is entirely voluntary, and we are grateful to everyone who chooses to support Diabetes Canada in this way.

Eligible empty beer and cooler cans have a refundable deposit value. When you donate your cans through National Diabetes Trust, that value helps raise much-needed funds for Diabetes Canada and its work supporting Canadians affected by diabetes and prediabetes.

Instead of returning the cans yourself and keeping the refund, you are choosing to donate that value to help support Diabetes Canada. Thank you for your support.

The collection service is operated by National Diabetes Trust, the social enterprise of Diabetes Canada. National Diabetes Trust has been collecting donated clothing and small household items for decades to raise much-needed funds for Diabetes Canada. The York Region pilot adds eligible empty beer and cooler cans to the home collection service in the pilot area.

The pilot is currently limited to York Region, Ontario. It is not currently available in other parts of Ontario or elsewhere in Canada.

National Diabetes Trust’s existing collection of gently used clothing and eligible small household items continues in participating communities across Canada.

The pilot will start on Oct. 4, 2026, for approximately 6 months.

No decisions have been made about expanding the program. This is a pilot, and the results will be reviewed before decisions are made about its future.

We appreciate the interest from people outside York Region and will share information about any future expansion if, and when, decisions are made.

The pilot accepts empty beer and cooler cans that have a refundable deposit value. We will not accept glass, beer or wine bottles.

Thank you for helping us make collection safe and easy. Please rinse your empty cans, place them in a separate clear bag, and securely close the bag. Leave it at your doorstep or designated pickup location for your scheduled collection. Please mark your bag with the letter D and list how many cans are in the bag.

Beer and cooler cans must be packaged separately from any clothing or small household items you are donating.

No. Beer and cooler cans must be placed in a separate clear bag. Do not place them in the same bag or box as clothing or small household items. This helps avoid contamination and allows us to clearly identify and handle donations safely and efficiently.

Yes, if the donation exceeds 30 cans.

All beer and cooler cans purchased in the province of Ontario, subject to deposit, can be donated.

Yes. Crushed cans are eligible for donation as long as they can still be identified as eligible beverage-alcohol cans.

Yes. Please empty and rinse your beer and cooler cans before placing them in a clear bag for collection.

No. Please do not put beer or cooler cans in Diabetes Canada donation bins. The bins are for eligible textile donations. Beer and cooler cans included in the York Region pilot should be donated through the designated home collection service.

No. Please do not leave bags of beer and cooler cans or other donations beside a donation bin. If you are participating in the York Region pilot, please follow the home pickup instructions for your cans.

Yes. You can drop them off at our Clothing Collection Centre located at 16600 Bayview Ave. Unit 6 during office hours, which are Mon-Fri 7:00am-6:00pm and Sat/Sun 7:00am-3:00pm.

Not at this time. The beer and cooler can collection is currently being piloted only in York Region, Ontario.

No. The pilot does not change National Diabetes Trust’s existing clothing and small household goods collection program.

National Diabetes Trust raises much-needed funds for Diabetes Canada. The net proceeds help support Diabetes Canada’s work for Canadians affected by diabetes and prediabetes, including diabetes research, education, programs, services and advocacy.

By donating your eligible empty beer and cooler cans, you are choosing to turn their refundable deposit value into another way to support this important work.

No.