Drink Containers

One million single-use plastic bottles are sold around the world every minute. 

According to reports from volunteers, one in 10 items found on Clean Up Australia Day is a beverage container, making up nearly 18% of the total rubbish removed.

With small actions, you can bring these numbers down and drive real change in your community – from replacing single-use bottles with reusable alternatives, to recycling bottles and cans you find. 

Learn more about the problem and what we can do to fix it. 

The Problem

The world produces almost 20,000 single-use plastic bottles every second. By 2021, the number of plastic bottles we produce is expected to increase by 20% to 583.3 billion every year.  

Left in the environment, these containers can remain for hundreds of years and break down into smaller pieces that continue to cause environmental damage. 

What can you do?

Together we can help reduce the amount of waste from drink containers. 

Check out the top actions you can take today! 

Corporate Changemakers

What is a Container Deposit Scheme?

Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) refers to the collection of drink containers and receiving a cash refund for each container returned. Depending on the deposit system, containers can be returned to the manufacturers via the retailer, to designated collection depots, reverse vending machines or recovered as part of existing waste or recycling collection system.

What are the benefits?

Returning beverage containers for a cash value refund reduces rubbish going to landfill or ending up in the environment, increases recycling rates, avoids using virgin material for new products, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, reduces water usage, creates jobs and generates cash in our hip pockets.
News and Updates
Every State and Territory in Australia has now announced, or put in place, a Container Deposit Scheme. Here’s a rundown of what’s happening around the country.   

VIC
VIC has announced it will deliver a Container Deposit Scheme by 2022/2023. Learn more about their plans here.

TAS 
TAS has announced it will deliver a Container Refund Scheme by 2022. Learn more about their plans here.

WA
WA’s Container Deposit Scheme, Containers for Change, started on 1 October 2020. Learn more about their scheme here.

NSW
NSW started their scheme, Return and Earn, on 1 December 2017. 
In the first 12 months, the scheme reached 1 billion containers, raised recycling rates to 54%, created 500 new jobs and generated millions in private sector infrastructure investment. Learn more about their scheme here (and if you are interested in getting involved with scheme operation in NSW, contact TOMRA Cleanaway here)

QLD
QLD started their scheme, Containers for Change, on 1 November 2018. Learn more about their scheme here.

ACT
ACT started scheme on 30 June 2018. Learn more about their scheme here.

NT
NT started their scheme, Cash for Containers, on 3 January 2012. 
A 2018 review found the scheme to be successfully reducing waste and increasing resource recovery, reuse and recycling. Learn more about their scheme here.

SA
SA started their scheme in 1977, paving the way for container deposit legislation in Australia. 
After more than 40 years, SA continues to lead the country in litter reduction of beverage containers, with an overall return rate of 76.4%. Learn more about their scheme here.  

More Actions You Can Take

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