The Australian Capital Territory is set to significantly broaden its popular container deposit initiative, with wine bottles slated to become eligible for a ten-cent refund under an expanded waste reduction program. This planned enhancement, announced by the ACT government, will see most containers between 150 millilitres and 3 litres qualify for the financial incentive when the changes take effect no later than mid-2027.
Major Expansion to Capture More Recyclables
This substantial expansion means the deposit scheme will begin accepting a wider array of beverage containers that are currently excluded. Alongside wine and spirits bottles, the program will include cordial and juice bottles, as well as larger flavoured milk and juice containers. The move is designed to capture more recyclable material and divert it from landfill, supporting a more circular economy in the region.
Environmental and Economic Benefits Projected
ACT Environment Minister Suzanne Orr has highlighted the significant anticipated benefits of the scheme's enlargement. "We expect the expansion will result in an additional 8 million containers collected and 400 tonnes of recyclable material being diverted from landfill in the first year alone," Minister Orr stated. "This positive impact is projected to increase over time. Expanding the scheme will reduce waste and improve the recovery and circularity of our precious resources."
The government estimates that the expansion will align the ACT's efforts with New South Wales' own broadening of its successful "Return and Earn" program, fostering greater consistency across regional waste management strategies. The delayed commencement until mid-2027 provides necessary preparation time for the beverage industry and scheme operators to adjust their systems and processes accordingly.
Current Practices and Future Directions
Until the expansion officially begins, residents are reminded that wine bottles and other larger containers should continue to be placed in yellow-lidded recycling bins for standard kerbside collection. The existing scheme, introduced in 2018, already accepts most aluminium cans, glass and plastic bottles, and cartons from juice boxes and flavoured milk that bear the distinctive 10-cent refund mark.
Since its inception, the ACT Container Deposit Scheme has proven remarkably successful, paying out refunds totalling more than $43 million on over 430 million returned containers. However, recent data indicates there is still room for improvement in capturing all eligible materials.
Significant Refunds Still Being Missed
Details from a comprehensive waste audit released last year revealed that Canberra households are collectively forfeiting nearly $1 million annually in potential container deposit refunds. The latest audit by ACT NoWaste found that the average household disposes of 1.4 containers eligible for 10-cent refunds in their general waste each week.
"This equates to 224,505 containers destined for landfill every week, forfeiting $22,450 in potential weekly refunds and over $1 million annually," the Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate annual report confirmed. These figures underscore the importance of both the existing scheme and its planned expansion to capture more recyclable materials.
Long-Term Financial and Environmental Advantages
An independent analysis conducted in 2021 projected that the ACT would be approximately $40 million better off over the following two decades because of the container deposit scheme. These savings primarily stem from reduced environmental costs, including diminished landfill expenses, avoided street sweeping costs, and lower waste collection, processing, and transport expenditures.
The ACT government is now preparing new regulations to formally expand the scheme and has committed to ongoing collaboration with industry partners and scheme operators to implement these important changes effectively. This expansion represents a fulfilment of an election promise made by ACT Labor before the 2024 election, demonstrating continued commitment to progressive environmental policies in the territory.
