P.E.I. Environment Minister George Webster joined 500 Islanders for a street party on Saturday to celebrate the lifting of the can ban.

'I want to thank … Pepsi.'— Environment Minister George Webster

Selling flavoured, carbonated drinks in non-refillable containers had been illegal on P.E.I. since 1984, and hundreds who had been importing canned pop for decades joined the minister to celebrate at a party sponsored by a local radio station.

"Islanders have asked for a change and we have listened," Webster shouted to the crowd.

"I want to thank Ocean 100 for their activity here today and thank Pepsi."

Aluminum and plastic got the silver tray and white gloves treatment at a launch party for non-refillable containers. (CBC)

Stores across P.E.I. were busy Friday night stocking shelves with cans and plastic bottles, and Islanders were just as busy unloading them Saturday. While pleased to see canned pop, one shopper found it hard to get caught up in the excitement.

"It's kind of anticlimactic because we had some at home anyway," he said.

"It's one of those things you wonder why it took so long."

While glass bottles are not banned, they are almost as scarce on store shelves this week as cans were last week. The Pepsi bottling plant in Charlottetown was converted to a distribution depot two weeks ago with the loss of 27 jobs.

The Green Party of P.E.I. calls the end of the can ban "a huge step backward." Leader Sharon Labchuk says the environment minister should be ashamed for opening the first can of pop.