NSW’s controversial Return and Earn CDS celebrates 11 billion bottle milestone

The NSW Return and Earn container deposit scheme is celebrating the milestone of having recycled 11 billion bottles, cans and cartons in NSW since its conception in December 2017. In the process, it has returned $1.1 billion in container refunds back into participants' pockets and has raised $54 million for charities and community groups via donated refunds and return point hosting fees.

“In six short years, Return and Earn has become a shining example of what’s possible when we all work together to tackle a tricky problem,” said Danielle Smalley, CEO at Exchange for Change, the Return and Earn scheme coordinator.

“Thanks to support from the NSW community and the beverage and resource recovery industries, more than 11 billion bottles, cans and cartons have been diverted from landfill to become in-demand commodities in our growing circular economy.”

The Return and Earn CDS scheme, which is delivered by the NSW Government in partnership with Exchange for Change and TOMRA Cleanaway, is directly funded by the beverage industry. The scheme now features more than 620 return points statewide, which have collectively recycled more than 960,344 tonnes of material. Two in every three containers supplied in NSW are now redeemed through the scheme. 

“Return and Earn is delivering significant and tangible environmental, social and economic benefits to the people of NSW,” said James Dorney, CEO at TOMRA Cleanaway. 

“From providing money back in people’s pockets, to supporting the vital work of charities, and providing a clean and reliable stream of recycled materials for manufacturing – it has made NSW a better place.”

When first being introduced into NSW in 2017 the scheme received criticism from suppliers who viewed it as onerous and expensive. It was also criticised by small businesses, who were disproportionately affected by the scheme’s terms. Drinks companies were forced to implement price rises as a direct result of the CDS rollout.

Since then, certain concerns around the lack of national infrastructure to effectively perform recycling processes have been somewhat alleviated, with one contributing factor being the $45 million Albury-Wodonga PET recycling plant made by Pact Group, Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd, Asahi Beverages, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP). 

Nine out of 10 NSW adults say they support the Return and Earn scheme, and eight out of 10 say they have participated. Despite this, industry concerns remain valid concerning its efficacy. One factor of doubt relates to the fate of aluminium cans recycled. With no aluminium reprocessing facilities available in Australia, all aluminium cans are sold and shipped to recycling programs overseas. 

The CDS scheme says that 100% of the plastic and glass bottles it receives are successfully recycled using Australian facilities.