Expanded container deposit scheme (CDS)
The Territory scheme will expand on the 1st July 2026 to include any beverage container of up to 3 litres in volume. This means containers such as wine, spirits and plain milk containers will be regulated containers.
If you are already a CDS supplier, you do not need to re-register. If you supply containers that are part of the expanded scheme scope, please provide the details of your containers to your CDS coordinator.
The time frames for including a refund marking on new containers are:
- 2 years for wine and spirits containers – effective from 1 July 2028
- One year for other containers – effective from 1 July 2027.
The Northern Territory is running webinars to assist beverage suppliers prepare for these changes. Beverage suppliers are encouraged to register for one of the scheduled sessions or consider upcoming dates as they are released on our webinar registration page.
Retailers
Retailers must ensure that beverage containers they sell are registered, it is an offence against section 14 of the Act for a retailer to sell a container that is not.
Retailers are under no obligation to accept delivery of empty containers or pay the refund amount in exchange for delivered containers. If a retailer elects to do so or wishes to operate a reverse vending machine, they are required to obtain a collection depot approval.
Approved CDS coordinators
NT Coordinators Pty Ltd
Contact: Trevor Hockley
Phone: 08 8376 0555
Email: ntcoord@gibsonpartners.com.au
Envirobank Recycling NT
Contact form
Phone: 1800 368 476
Statewide Recycling
Contact: Richard Byerlee
Phone: 08 8341 2511
Email: sales@statewiderecycling.com.au
Marine Stores Pty Ltd
Contact: Craig Marshall
Phone: 08 8447 6744
Email: sales@marinestores.com.au
CDS supplier registration
Under the Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Act 2011, beverage manufacturers, distributors or retailers of regulated containers PDF (590.7 KB) must hold a CDS supplier registration to supply regulated containers for sale in the Northern Territory.
It is a condition of CDS supplier registration that the supplier report sales of their products in the Territory to their NT CDS coordinator, including those products purchased from a manufacturer and imported from another jurisdiction.
Who needs to register and report
This diagram outlines a common scenario, however there are many others. If you are not sure what is required please contact the NT CDS Team.
Non-compliance with a condition of registration is:
- grounds for suspension or cancellation of the registration under section 41K of the Act
- an offence under section 42 of the Act and penalties apply.
Retailers may be directed to remove products from their shelves where non-compliances are found.
To apply for registration as a CDS supplier, you must:
- form a supplier arrangement with an approved CDS coordinator
- complete and submit the application for NT CDS supplier registrationPDF (928.7 KB).
A complete application for CDS supplier registration may take up to 4 weeks from the date of submission for a decision to be made. To avoid delays in the assessment process please ensure the application is complete.
CDS coordinators
Under the Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Act 2011, an approval is required to operate as a CDS coordinator in the Northern Territory.
A CDS coordinator approval will only be issued if an application is accompanied by the relevant waste management arrangements. All waste management arrangements must deal with the requirements of section 11 (WMA's generally) and section 12 (coordinator arrangement) of the Act.
Get the coordinator approval application form PDF (148.7 KB).
CDS collection depots
Under the Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Act 2011, an approval is required to operate as a collection depot in the Territory.
In deciding the application, the NT EPA will consider the proposed location of the collection depot and must be satisfied that the depot will be accessible to the general public in its proposed location and open on a consistent and regular basis (section 24B).
Get the collection depot approval application PDF (155.4 KB).