RESOURCES
New South Wales Bottle Bill
Everything you need to know about the container deposit system in New South Wales, Australia, including eligible containers, refund values, and collection locations.
Program Information
Name
Return and Earn, established under the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (Container Deposit Scheme) Regulation 2017 (NSW).
Date Implemented
Launched on 1 December 2017.
Reclamation System
Managed by Exchange for Change (Scheme Coordinator) and operated by TOMRA Cleanaway (Network Operator). As of 2025, the scheme includes over 600 return points across NSW, comprising reverse vending machines, over-the-counter sites, and automated depots.
Fees
Beverage suppliers fund the scheme through network fees ranging from $0.019 to $0.1442 AUD per container (based on material type), a fixed annual scheme coordinator fee, a compliance fee to the NSW EPA, and a 10-cent processing refund to MRFs for kerbside-recovered containers.
Unredeemed Deposits
Retained by the scheme to fund operations and system improvements.
Eligible Containers
Return and Earn 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 | 13.48¢ | 10¢ |
Plastic Bottles
Label intact, and lid on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| HDPE 150mL – 3L | 8.60¢ | 10¢ |
| PET 150mL – 3L | 12.05¢ | 10¢ |
Glass Bottles
Label intact and lid on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150mL – 3L | 14.42¢ | 10¢ |
Liquid Paperboard
Uncrushed, lid on
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150mL– 3L | 5.17¢ | 10¢ |
Juice Boxes
Uncrushed, push straws in
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150mL – 3L | 5.17¢ | 10¢ |
Steel Cans
Keep labels on, lid inside can
| SIZE | CRF FEE | REFUND |
|---|---|---|
| 150mL – 3L | 8.23¢ | 10¢ |
What's Not Accepted
Plain Milk
All plain milk or milk substitute containers.
Flavoured Milk
1L or greater.
Glass Wine Bottles
All glass wine bottles.
Glass Spirit Bottles
All glass spirit bottles.
Cordial Bottles
Sweetened, flavoured, fruit-based syrup.
Pure Juice Containers
Containers 1 litre and over. Comprising of at least 90% pure juice.
Casks
Plastic bladders in boxes. 1 litre or more.
Registered Health Tonics
Medicinal or therapeutic beverage containers. Includes drinks sold as supplements or remedies.
Program Performance
Return and Earn has achieved significant environmental outcomes since its launch:
| Category\Year | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Absolute Recovery Rate | 68%+2.0% | 66%+2.0% | 64%+3.0% | 61%+8.0% | 53%+21.0% | 32% |
Relative Recovery Rate | 87%+0.4% | 86.6%+0.5% | 86.1%-1.6% | 87.7% | 87.7%+0.2% | 87.5% |
| Aluminium Cans | 85% | 83.2% | 81.5% | 79.3% | 76.8% | 73.5% |
| Plastic Bottles | 80% | 77.8% | 75.6% | 73.2% | 69.5% | 65.2% |
| Glass Bottles | 75% | 73.1% | 71.2% | 69.5% | 66.2% | 62.3% |
| Paperboard Cartons | 70% | 67.5% | 65.3% | 63% | 58.9% | 54.1% |
| Steel Cans | 65% | 63.2% | 61.5% | 59.8% | 57.2% | 52.8% |
| Other Containers | 60% | 57.6% | 55.3% | 53% | 49.5% | 44.8% |
References:
Regulations & Resources
Key legislation and resources for NSW's Return and Earn scheme:
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 (NSW)
This Act provides the overarching legal framework for waste management and resource recovery in NSW. Part 5 of the Act specifically establishes the Container Deposit Scheme, outlining its objectives and operational structure.
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Amendment (Container Deposit Scheme) Act 2016 (NSW)
This amendment Act modifies the 2001 Act to incorporate provisions necessary for the implementation of the Container Deposit Scheme, including definitions, refund amounts, and administrative arrangements.
Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (Container Deposit Scheme) Regulation 2017 (NSW)
This regulation provides detailed operational guidelines for the Container Deposit Scheme, such as eligible containers, refund markings, and requirements for collection points and network operators.
Mutual Recognition Amendment (NSW Container Deposit Scheme) Regulations 2017 (Cth)
These Commonwealth regulations exempt the NSW Container Deposit Scheme from certain provisions of the Mutual Recognition Act 1992, allowing the state to enforce its container deposit requirements without conflicting with interstate trade laws.
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