Container deposit scheme: beverage container litter

The Key Littered Items Study has tracked changes in beverage container litter since the 2017 introduction of the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS).

2024–25 CDS litter

In 2024–25, the density of littered CDS containers fell by 21% since 2023–24 (from 5.63 items per 1000m² in 2023-24, to 4.47 items per 1000m² in 2024–25).
The volume of litter fell by 12% since 2023–24 (from 3.45 litres per 1000m² in 2023–24, to 3.04 litres in 2024–25).
CDS container litter density has fallen 65%, using the average for 2018 to 2019 as a baseline, indicating that the Return and Earn program continues to be a driver for litter reduction in NSW.
In 2024–25, CDS litter accounts for 4% of the total litter item density, compared to 11% in 2017 (i.e., just before the introduction of the Return and Earn program) and accounts for 37% of total litter volume, compared to 53% in 2017.

Updated 24 October 2025