RESOURCES
Canberra Bottle Bill
Everything you need to know about the container deposit system in the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra), including eligible containers, refund values, and collection locations.
Program Information
Name
ACT Container Deposit Scheme (ACT CDS), established under the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Amendment Act 2017 (ACT).
Date Implemented
Launched on 30 June 2018.
Reclamation System
Managed by Exchange for Change (Scheme Coordinator) and operated by Return-It (Network Operator). As of 2025, the scheme includes 22 return points across the ACT, comprising reverse vending machines, Drop & Go pods, cash-back depots, and donation stations.
Fees
Beverage suppliers cover network fees ranging from $0.0139 to $0.1550 AUD per container (by material), a fixed annual coordinator fee, a compliance fee to ACT NoWaste, and a 10-cent processing refund to MRFs for kerbside collections.
Unredeemed Deposits
Retained by the scheme to fund operations and system improvements.
Eligible Containers
The ACT Container Deposit Scheme accepts most beverage containers between 150mL and 3L. Here's what you can return for a refund:
Aluminum Cans
Uncrushed, tab on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150ml – 3L | 15.50¢ | 10¢ |
Plastic Bottles
Label intact, and lid on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| HDPE 150ml – 3L | 8.50¢ | 10¢ |
| PET 150ml – 3L | 10.90¢ | 10¢ |
Glass Bottles
Label intact and lid on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150ml – 3L | 13.95¢ | 10¢ |
Liquid Paperboard
Uncrushed, lid on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150ml – 3L | 4.92¢ | 10¢ |
Steel Cans
Keep labels on, lid inside can
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150ml – 3L | 2.46¢ | 10¢ |
What's Not Accepted
Plain Milk
Plain milk containers of all sizes including plant-based milk substitutes.
Flavoured Milk Containers
1L or greater.
Pure Fruit & Vegetable Juice Containers
1L or greater.
Glass Wine Bottles
All glass wine bottles.
Glass Spirit Bottles
All glass spirit bottles.
Cordial and syrup containers
Sweetened, flavoured, fruit-based syrup.
Size Restrictions
Containers smaller than 150mL or larger than 3L.
Program Performance
The ACT Container Deposit Scheme has delivered strong environmental benefits since its launch:
| Category\Year | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolute Recovery Rate | 73%+3.0% | 70% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Relative Recovery Rate | 87.5%+0.5% | 87%+0.4% | 86.6%+0.5% | 86.1%-1.6% | 87.7% | 87.7% |
| Aluminium Cans | 85% | 82.5% | 80.2% | 76.8% | 73.5% | 68.2% |
| Plastic Bottles | 79.8% | 77.4% | 75.5% | 72.6% | 69% | 63.5% |
| Glass Bottles | 75% | 73.2% | 71.5% | 68.3% | 64.8% | 58.4% |
| Paperboard Cartons | 70% | 67.5% | 65.3% | 61.8% | 57.5% | 49.8% |
| Steel Cans | 65% | 63.2% | 61.8% | 59.2% | 55.6% | 46.5% |
| Other Containers | 60% | 58.2% | 56.7% | 53.8% | 49.5% | 42.6% |
Regulations & Resources
Key legislation and resources for the ACT Container Deposit Scheme:
Waste Management and Resource Recovery Act 2016 (ACT)
This Act establishes the overarching legal framework for waste management in the ACT. Part 10A specifically introduces the Container Deposit Scheme, detailing its objectives, operational structure, and the roles of various stakeholders.
Waste Management and Resource Recovery Amendment Act 2017 (ACT)
This amendment Act modifies the 2016 Act to incorporate provisions necessary for the implementation of the Container Deposit Scheme, including definitions, refund amounts, and administrative arrangements.
Waste Management and Resource Recovery (Container Deposit Scheme) Amendment Regulation 2018 (No 1)
This regulation provides detailed operational guidelines for the CDS, such as eligible containers, refund markings, and requirements for collection points and network operators.
Mutual Recognition Amendment (ACT Container Deposit Scheme) Regulations 2018
These Commonwealth regulations exempt the ACT's CDS from certain provisions of the Mutual Recognition Act 1992, allowing the territory to enforce its container deposit requirements without conflicting with interstate trade laws.
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