Return and Earn

Information about how to redeem money in the Return and Earn container deposit scheme, what containers can be returned and how the scheme is managed.

The Return and Earn container deposit scheme was introduced in 2017 to reduce the volume of litter by 40% by 2020. At the time, drink container litter made up 44% of the volume of all litter in the state and cost more than $162 million to manage.

Since 2017, the scheme has reduced container litter and boosted recycling – with a 73% reduction in the volume of drink container litter and over one million tonnes of materials recycled since 2017.

How to be part of the Return and Earn scheme

There are many ways to participate in Return and Earn, help protect the environment and support your community.

• Take your empty eligible drink containers to a return point. To find your nearest return point, go to the Return and Earn website, enter your suburb details or postcode and follow the interactive map for directions.
• Donate your eligible drink containers to a local charity, school or community group to help them fundraise.
• Use your yellow bin kerbside recycling service. Materials recovery facilities (MRFs) receive a refund on every drink container they collect through the council kerbside recycling system. 

Containers that can be returned

• Eligible drink containers are the containers most commonly found as litter in NSW. They’re often consumed ‘on the go.’
• Most empty 150-millilitre to 3-litre drink containers are eligible for a 10-cent refund at a NSW return point.
• The best way to identify an eligible container is by the 10c refund marking.
• Check eligibility using this tool or use the container checker on the Return and Earn app.

It is important that containers are empty, uncrushed, unbroken and have the original label attached. If a container isn't eligible for a refund, please use a recycling bin.

Containers that cannot be returned

Drink containers that cannot be returned do not qualify for a refund. These drinks are often consumed at home and can go in your yellow lid bin for council kerbside recycling. They include

• milk containers
• glass wine bottles
• glass spirit bottles
• juice bottles 1 litre and over
• cordial bottles

Roles in the Return and Earn scheme

The role of the EPA

The EPA is responsible for the design and development of the Return and Earn scheme. We manage the registration of all eligible beverage containers and the obligations and performance of contracts with the scheme coordinator and network operator.

The role of beverage suppliers

NSW beverage suppliers fund the Return and Earn container deposit scheme. Any business selling beverages in containers or giving them away as part of a promotion, whether manufacturers, distributor, wholesaler or retailer must enter a supply agreement with the scheme coordinator and register any eligible containers.

The role of the scheme operator

Exchange for Change is contracted to provide financial management, scheme auditing, fraud identification, verification, community education and marketing. They also manage beverage suppliers and ensure supplier funds are paid into the scheme.

The role of the network operator

TOMRA Cleanaway is contracted to set up and run a network of return points across NSW. They manage the logistics and sale of commodities to ensure all collected containers are recycled.

Fundraise through Return and Earn

Return and Earn is a unique fundraising opportunity for charities, schools, community and sporting groups.

These groups can seek donations of eligible drink containers from the community and redeem them for a refund at a return point.

• Charities, community groups and social enterprises can apply to the network operator to set up and run collection points.

Donate through Return and Earn

Groups can also apply to become a donation partner on Return and Earn reverse vending machines to receive donations from people using the machine.

People can donate to your group by inserting their eligible drink containers in the machine, selecting the ‘donate’ option and choosing your group. Where relevant, donations of $2 or more will be issued with a receipt to claim a tax deduction.

• Register your interest in becoming a donation partner