The Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) helps to reduce litter from our streets, increases recycling and helps reduce the amount of rubbish being disposed to landfill.
Industry participants can find out more on CDS industry information.
Expanded CDS
The CDS expanded on 1 July 2026 to include any beverage container of up to 3 litres in volume. This means containers such as wine, spirits and plain milk (including UHT milk) containers are regulated containers.
Regulated containers
Most regulated containers will have one of the following 10 cent refund markings on the label:
- 10c refund at collection depots/points in participating State/Territory of purchase
- 10c refund at SA/NT collection depots in State/Territory of purchase
- 10c refund at collection depots when sold in NT.
Under the expanded scheme, new containers, such as wine and spirit bottles and casks, plain milk, larger juice or flavoured milk cartons and bottles, may display the refund marking if sold during the transitional period for labelling updates:
- until 1 July 2028 for wine and spirits containers
- until 1 July 2027 for all other new containers.
Members of the public can still take these containers to an approved collection depot to receive the refunds, even if the refund marking is not displayed on the container.
For more information about these changes, get the CDS supplier frequently asked questions PDF (618.9 KB).
It is an offence under the CDS for a retailer to sell regulated containers in the Territory that are not supplied by a registered CDS supplier.
If you are unsure if a product is eligible for the CDS, contact the Container Deposit Scheme team.
Collection depots
Collection depots are the public access point to the Territory's CDS.
Get 10c back in your pocket for each container you take back to a collection depot.
Collection depots are not required to accept any container that is unclean or contaminated.
To reduce your waiting times at the collection depot, ensure your containers are:
- clean
- not crushed
- sorted into material types.
If you return more than 1,500 containers to a collection depot within any 48 hour period, you will need to sign a declaration form stating that the containers were purchased in the Territory.
Community groups, sporting clubs and schools
Community groups, sporting clubs and schools can get involved by providing collection bins at events, the canteen or providing the opportunity for the community to donate their containers.
Consider how the containers will be sorted, stored and transported to a collection depot to raise funds for your organisation.
The CDS isn't just about fundraising, it's also a great way to motivate kids and club members to keep the local environment clean.
Reports
View the reports on the CDS on our publications and advice section.