 Container deposit refunds
Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) was introduced to South Australia in 1977 and has proven to be successful in reducing litter and promoting resource recovery. The scheme allows South Australians to collect a deposit for each beverage container they return to a recycling depot.
10 cent container deposit
From 1 September 2008, the deposit on beverage containers will be 10 cents. Even if the container is marked ‘5 cents’, consumers can still receive a 10 cent refund.
The State Government has increased the deposit amount on beverage containers to encourage more South Australians to recycle. By increasing the incentive to recycle, less litter will be seen on our streets and less waste will be sent to landfill.
What containers are covered by the scheme?
CDL captures a broad range of beverage containers that contribute to the litter stream. Such as
Containers less than 1 litre:
- flavoured milks
- fruit juices
Containers up to and including 3 litres:
- soft drinks
- vitamin drinks
- sport drinks
- iced teas
- beer
- alcoholic sodas
- spirit-based mixers
- some wine-based beverages.
Plain milk and wine in glass containers remain outside the scope of the legislation, which also specifically exempts pure fruit juice and flavoured milk in containers with a capacity of one litre or greater.
If you are unsure whether a drink container attracts a deposit, check the labelling on the container.
When is the cut-off date for returning containers labelled ‘5 cents’?
There is no cut-off date for returning containers marked ‘5 cents’.
More information
To find your nearest collection depot, see the list of metropolitan depots or regional depots. Or for more information on the deposit increase, take a look at some Frequently Asked Questions.
Zero Waste SA has a Recycling Information Directory which is South Australia’s guide to waste minimisation. Within these pages you will find out how you can recycle just about anything in South Australia.
This page was last modified 09-09-2008
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