Original Law 1993 Changes 2008 Update Current Law
Law Summary   Environment Protection Act 1993, Part 8, Division 2: Beverage Containers. Commonly known as Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) sets up a deposit-refund system to Reduce beverage litter, achieve higher resource recovery rates, and educate the community to recycle. Environment Protection (Beverage Container) Regulations 2008.  
Date Implemented Deposit legislation implemented in 1975.  Integrated with Environment Protection Act in 1993 September 1, 2008  
Containers Covered   Most beverage containers are covered except some large containers for certain beverages, listed below   Most beverage containers are covered except some large containers for certain beverages, listed below
Beverages Covered   All beverages except: wine in glass bottles, casks, and sachets; plain milk and flavored milk in containers 1Litre or more, and 'pure' fruit juice   All beverages except: wine in glass bottles, casks, and sachets; plain milk and flavored milk in containers 1Litre or more, and 'pure' fruit juice
Refundable Deposits   10¢ for Category A containers (which are refundable at retailers),
5¢ for Category B containers (which are refundable at Collection Depots2)		 Deposit was changed to 10¢ for all containers 10¢
Fees / Taxes        
Program Success   Containers are recovered at the following rates:
  • 85% of non refillable glass bottles, compared with 36% nationally.
  • 84% of cans marketed in this State compared with 63% nationally.
  • 74% for PET whilst the national return rate is 36%. 
  • Liquid Paperboard, a recent inclusion, has a return rate of 40% increasing. 3[2]
   
View Legislation   Container Deposit Legislation (sets up infrastructure)
Beverage Container Regulations 1995 (Administrative details)		   Container Deposit Legislation (sets up infrastructure)
Beverage Container Regulations 1995 (Administrative details)

Footnotes

2.Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) in South Australia, http://www.hotkey.net.au/~gargoyle/CDL/AroundTheWorld/Australia/SA/index.html.