New South Wales

Law Summary

Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Amendment (Container Deposit Scheme) Act (Part 5 of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001) [1]

Date Implemented

Passed 11/17/2016; implemented 12/1/2017

Containers Covered

Beverages that are ≥150mL and ≤3L of the following materials:

PET
HDPE
Glass
Aluminum
Steel
Liquid paperboard

Containers should be returned empty, uncrushed, unbroken and with the original label attached. [2]

Beverages and Containers Not Covered

Plain milk (or milk substitute) containers
Flavored milk containers ≥1L
90% or more fruit or vegetable juice containers ≥1L
Glass containers for wine and spirits
Wine in casks ≥1L
Water in casks ≥1L
Sachets for wine ≥250mL
Cordials
Concentrated fruit/vegetable juices
Registered health tonics

Amount of Deposit

10¢ AUD

Reclamation System

The collection point network is made up of several types of return points including Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), Automated Depots, Over the Counter (OTC) and Donation Stations. As of June 2021, there are 336 RVMs, 28 Automated Depots, 234 OTC locations, and 22 Donation Stations. [3]

The network operator, TOMRA Cleanaway, is responsible for setting up and maintaining the collection point network in accordance with the community access targets set by the NSW Government. [4]

Handling Fee

N/A

Other Fees

Suppliers must make a contribution fee by material type based on a fixed pricing model: [5]

Unredeemed Deposits

Remains with the industry.

Program Success

System Results:

	2017-2018 [6]	2018-2019 [7]	2019-2020 [8]	2020-2021 [9]
Glass	74%	75%	78%	76%
Aluminum	49%	63%	70%	71%
PET	48%	55%	62%	64%
HDPE	34%	41%	47%	45%
Liquid Paperboard	5%	13%	18%	19%
Steel	14%	25%	32%	35%
Other Plastics	1%	4%	7%	6%
Other Materials	30%	79%	31%	16%
Overall/Total Material Rate	53%	61%	67%	67%

Details

The Return and Earn container deposit scheme is a NSW Government initiative, funded by contributions from the beverage industry, that aims to reduce beverage container litter in the environment. It offers a 10¢ refund to consumers, incentivizing them to hold onto their eligible containers or pick up littered containers left behind by others, for depositing at return points across NSW.

The program began in December 2017. The scheme coordinator is Exchange for Change while the network operator is TOMRA Cleanaway, in coordination with the NSW government. [10]

Consumers can participate in the Return and Earn initiative in three ways:

Take eligible drink containers to collection points including reverse vending machines and claim the refund.
Give eligible containers to charities, schools, sporting groups or other community organizations for them to redeem and claim the refund.
Eligible containers can continue to be placed in the curbside system, alongside ineligible containers. [11]

cds infographic

Since the program's inception, the system administrator, Return and Earn, reported that over 7.8 billion containers have been returned by consumers, the equivalent of $780 million in container refunds (as of August 2022). [12]