In a major boost to recycling efforts across New South Wales and South Australia, each state’s container deposit scheme (CDS) is set to expand to accept wine and spirit bottles and larger drink containers, starting in 2027.
The expansion across both states will see nearly half a billion additional beverage containers returned each year, saved from landfill and sent for recycling.
“The CDS is fantastic for the environment, great for our recycling industry and also puts money back in people’s pockets. It’s also incredibly popular with more and more items collected every year,” said Penny Sharpe, NSW Minister for Environment.
“By expanding to include more types of beverages, it’s estimated at least 27,000 tonnes of materials will be saved from landfill each year in NSW.
“It’s really important that people don’t try to take their wine bottles to a Return and Earn machine tomorrow. We’re working with industry to ensure a smooth transition and to ensure return systems will be ready to handle the new containers by mid-2027.”
The CDS – which is now active in every state and territory – is the most successful recycling program in Australia’s history and is also incredibly popular, with more containers collected every year.
Each state’s recycling scheme has already seen billions of eligible bottles and cans recycled – tackling litter, reducing pressure on landfills and rewarding people for their recycling behaviours.
Now even more residents and businesses will benefit from the 10-cent refund for returning a wider range of bottles and containers, while making it a smoother transition for industry.
“For almost half a century, SA has led the nation on container deposit legislation. It’s been an incredible success story, and now it is time to take the next step, and to do so in a coordinated way,” said Peter Malinauskas, SA Premier.
“Each year around 660 million drink containers (about 40,000 tonnes) are returned by South Australians for refund and recycling, preventing those containers from being littered or sent to landfill.
“We expect that number to increase once these changes take effect – delivering further financial benefit to community groups, sporting clubs and charities.”
Each container deposit program will expand to include:
- Wine and spirits glass bottles
- Cordials and juice concentrate containers
- Larger containers of up to three litres of beverages that are already in the scheme, like flavoured milk, fruit and vegetable juice
Plain milk and health tonic containers will continue to be excluded from the schemes.
These new containers will not be accepted at refund points immediately, giving the wine and spirits industry time to adjust and allowing collection points and systems to ramp up for the additional new containers.
NSW and SA will enact these changes by late-2027.
Boomerang Alliance has called the development a significant step for the successful circular economy scheme.
“Consumers have wanted this for a long time and it will be warmly welcomed by them as well as recyclers, collectors and charities. The scheme has set a benchmark for other appropriate products like e-waste, and we look forward to leading states like NSW and SA pursuing other opportunities,” said Jeff Angel, director of the Alliance.
“We do call on the wine industry to embrace this opportunity to be part of the refund scheme and to avoid an uncooperative and negative response.
“It’s been clear to us and policy makers that their initial concerns lack substance. The key focus should be on transition and where necessary, assisting small businesses to adjust.”
Queensland has already integrated glass wine and spirit bottles into its CDS. WA committed to expanding its scheme during its recent state election. The NT has also recently announced it will bring in legislation to expand its scheme.
“By making the container deposit scheme simpler, we reduce confusion about what’s included and what’s not. It will also help to keep glass out of landfill and support local remanufacturing,” said Susan Close, SA Deputy Premier and Minister for Climate, Environment and Water.
“We’ve listened to industry concerns, particularly from smaller wine producers, and we will continue to engage closely with them as reforms roll out.
“We will assist the wine and spirit industry with this transition and will work with the industry to ensure the least cost, simplest approach possible, with a special focus on assisting smaller operations.”
As the states work together to implement these changes, people are encouraged to keep recycling these containers through their kerbside bins, until collection points are ready.
SA and NSW will be jointly inviting peak bodies representing key industries to further engagement on implementing these changes.
