Container deposit scheme approvals
Under the Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Act 2011, an application for a CDS approval must be made to the NT EPA. This includes:
- CDS Supplier Registration
- collection approvals and
- co-ordinator approvals.
Completed applications can be forwarded to either via:
Email: containerdeposit@nt.gov.au (preferred)
Post to: NT Environment Protection Authority, GPO Box 3675, Darwin NT 0801
CDS supplier registration
From 2 October 2021, a new framework for CDS supplier registration is in place:
Under Part 2 of the Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Act 2011, beverage manufacturers or first importers of regulated containers PDF (590.7 KB) must to hold a CDS supplier registration certificate issued by the NT EPA, to supply regulated containers for sale in the Northern Territory. This means:
- You must be a CDS supplier hold a CDS supplier registration certificate to supply regulated containers for sale in the Northern Territory. You do not need to apply for, or hold an approval for each type of beverage container that you supply in the Northern Territory.
- If you hold a valid CDS supply approval on 2 October 2021, you will be issued a CDS supplier registration certificate with conditions of registration, subject to you providing additional information, if requested, to facilitate the issue of a certificate.
- A registered CDS supplier must at all times maintain a supplier arrangement with an approved CDS coordinator for the regulated containers that they supply in the Northern Territory.
See below for further information regarding submitting an application:
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 Registration PDF (766.7 KB)
A complete application for CDS supplier registration may take up to four 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.
The NT EPA will only issue a CDS supplier registration certificate if the applicant completes a declaration in the application, including that:
- the applicant has a supplier arrangement with an approved coordinator that meets the requirements of the Act (including section 11)
- Each container regulated container the applicant intends to supply in the Northern Territory is or will be subject a supplier arrangement.
Conditions of CDS supplier registration include that:
- The CDS supplier must not supply regulated containers in the Northern Territory unless:
- the material types of the containers (including the labels) are suitable for recycling or reuse
- the containers bear the Approved refund markings
- the refund marking is applied in a way that is not likely to render the containers unsuitable for recycling or reuse
- the containers are subject of a supplier arrangement to which the supplier is party
- The CDS supplier must at all times be party to a supplier arrangement that satisfies the requirements of the Act.
It is an offence against:
- section 13 of the Act for a person to supply a beverage in a regulated container to a beverage retailer for sale by the retailer unless the person is a CDS supplier
- section 14 of the Act for a beverage retailer to sell a beverage in a regulated container that is not a permitted container. It is an offence under the Container Deposit Scheme for a retailer to sell regulated containers that are not permitted containers in the Northern Territory.
Industry information
Container deposit scheme coordinators
Under the Environment Protection (Beverage Containers and Plastic Bags) Act 2011, an approval is required to operate as a container deposit scheme (CDS) coordinator in the Northern Territory.
A 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.
Please see below for further information regarding submitting an application for a coordinator approval;
CDS coordinators in the NT
NT Coordinators Pty Ltd
Contact: Trevor Hockley
Phone: 08 8376 0555
Email: ntcoord@gibsonpartners.com.au
Envirobank Recycling NT
Contact: Narelle Anderson
Phone: 1800 368 476
Email: nanderson@envirobank.com.au
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
Mobile: 0404 824 885
Email: craig.marshall@marinestores.com.au
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 NT.
In deciding the application, the NT EPA will take into account 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 (167.5 KB).
Retailers
Under the CDS retailers are required to ensure that beverage containers they sell have been approved.
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.