The NSW Container Deposit Scheme, Return and Earn, began rolling out across NSW on 1 December 2017.

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How Return and Earn works

The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority [NSW EPA] is responsible for the design and development of the Container Deposit Scheme [CDS]. The EPA manages the registration of all eligible beverage containers and the obligations and performance of contracts with the scheme coordinator and network operator.

NSW beverage suppliers fund the Return and Earn scheme. Any businesses selling beverages in containers or giving them away as part of a promotion, whether manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers or retailers must enter a supply agreement with the scheme coordinator and register any eligible containers.

The scheme operations are delivered through fee-for-service contracts:

• The scheme coordinator, Exchange for Change, is contracted to provide financial management, scheme auditing, fraud identification, verification, community education and marketing. A key role is to manage beverage suppliers and ensure supplier funds are paid into the scheme.
• The network operator, TOMRA Cleanaway a for profit company, is contracted to set up and runs a state-wide network of return points and manages the logistics and sale of commodities to ensure all collected containers are recycled.

Most NSW beverage containers between 150 mL and 3 litres in volume are eligible for a 10 cent refund. Refunds can be claimed in several ways including retail vouchers and electronic or cash refunds or can be donated to charity.

Containers ineligible for a refund under the NSW CDS

Containers that are not included in the Scheme and, therefore, do not qualify for a refund are:

• plain milk or milk substitute containers
• flavoured milk containers of 1 litre or more
• pure fruit or vegetable juice containers of 1 litre or more
• glass containers for wine and spirits
• casks (plastic bladders in boxes) for wine and casks for water of 1 litre or more
• sachets for wine of 250 millilitres or more
• containers for cordials, or concentrated fruit and vegetable juices
• registered health tonics

These exceptions are like those in other State/Territory CDS.

There are more than 600 return points across NSW. Find a return point via the Return and Earn website.