The Container Deposit Scheme is here!

August 28, 2019

The Container Deposit Scheme is here!

Have you ever visited a beach after a storm to see drink bottles and cans washed up onshore?

Have you visited a river after heavy rain and noticed drink cans and bottles floating by?

According to the EPA, bottles, cans and cartons make up a large proportion of the litter on our streets, waterways, beaches and green spaces, despite the fact they can be easily recycled.

The world produces 260 million tons of plastic each year, according to a Greenpeace report (Plastic Debris in the World's Oceans, 2006), with about 10 percent ending up in the Ocean, damaging the seabed and breaking down into small particles which are then ingested by all kinds of sea-life and passed on to humans through the food chain.

Designed to reduce litter, the schemes offer a 10-cent refund for every eligible can and bottle returned to collection points including our Promotional Bottled Water

The NSW Government's 'Return and Earn' and Queensland’s 'Containers for Change' schemes, provide huge benefits to the community including reducing costs for council cleaning and curbside recycling.

Theses schemes are a way for us all to help solve the litter problem and according to NSW Environment Minister, Gabrielle Upton, will reduce litter volume in NSW by 40 per cent by 2020, making it the largest litter reduction initiative to be introduced in NSW.

“There has been widespread community support for Return and Earn, with over 115 million containers returned across the state since December 1,” stated the minister.

On the www.returnandearn.org.au website, the number of returned drink containers as of today has been a whopping 840,619,227.

“While there are many critics of the respective schemes, the key factor is that if people are committed to making a difference by returning their drink containers, it will benefit the community and the environment greatly. We hope that all our customers will support these schemes by returning all bottled water containers to deposit centres.” Joe Lee from www.customwater.com.au

Different schemes in different states

Effective 1 November 2018, all promotional bottled water sold by us will comply with the deposit schemes in SA/NT/NSW/ACT/QLD which require every bottled water purchase to include an additional $0.14. This fee is made up of an Government Administrative Levy ($0.04) and the Scheme Compliance Fee ($0.10). All bottles will receive a 10c refund available on return, as legislated.

While South Australia has had a deposit scheme for Container deposit legislation (CDL) also known as a Container Deposit Scheme (CDS), other states had scrapped schemes in past decades or never implemented a scheme.

Over the past several years however, increased public pressure has encouraged other state governments to implement Container deposit legislation, with each participating state creating legislation for their Container Deposit Scheme.

Participating states are:

How it works

The container refund scheme will give people an incentive to collect and return containers for recycling, by giving a refund of 10 cent per item.

Our Commitment

As a registered beverage supplier with the Container Refund Scheme, Northshore Beverage Wholesalers Pty Ltd (www.customwater.com.au), will add $0.14 to every bottled water purchase made.

You can then earn a 10 cent refund on any bottled water containers you have purchased with us by collecting and returning your empty water bottles to a collection centre.

Collect eligible water bottles & take to a return point

Just go to your local collection point and deposit any water bottles with volumes between 150ml and three litres. Bottles must be intact, not crushed or broken and have a readable barcode to be eligible.

Currently in NSW there are over 686 Return and Earn return points across the state, with more being added every week. There are different types of return points in NSW and the best one for you could depend on how many bottles, cans and cartons you are returning and how you would like to receive your refund.

Queensland’s container refund scheme has more than 230 container refund points in operation across the state.

The number of sites will continue to grow as each states schemes rolls out.

Earn a refund or make a donation

Every eligible bottle, can or carton, your return is worth 10 cents and depending on the return point facility, you will be able to choose to:

  • Donate your refund directly to a charity,
  • Receive a docket redeemable for cash,
  • Receive a an electronic transfer using PayPal.
  • Reverse Vending Machines offer you all three options while over the Counter sites offer cash refunds and some the opportunity to donate. Automated Depots offer cash refunds and some offer electronic transfers.

Find out more

NSW

For more information, including a full list of eligible drink containers, visit: www.returnandearn.org.au

QLD

To learn more about Queensland’s Container Refund Scheme, please visit the Containers for Change website at www.containersforchange.com.au