Canberrans return millions of drink containers through the ACT Container Deposit Scheme every year.
27 January 2026
In brief
- The ACT Container Deposit Scheme (ACT CDS) allows people to return eligible drink containers for a 10-cent refund.
- Canberrans return millions of drink containers through the ACT CDS every year.
- The ACT CDS will expand to include most drink containers between 150 millilitres and 3 litres.
The ACT Container Deposit Scheme (ACT CDS) will expand the range of eligible drink containers that Canberrans can return for a 10-cent refund.
The ACT CDS currently accepts most:
- aluminium cans
- glass and plastic bottles
- cartons, including juice boxes and flavoured milk.
Following an expansion, the ACT CDS will include most containers between 150 millilitres and 3 litres, such as:
- Wine and spirits glass bottles
- Cordials and juice concentrate containers
- Larger containers of beverages that are already in the scheme, like flavoured milk, fruit and vegetable juice.
The expanded ACT CDS will begin no earlier than mid-2027. This will allow return points and systems to get ready for collecting and processing the new containers.
Canberrans can keep recycling containers that are not yet included in the CDS in their yellow recycling bins until the expanded ACT CDS is launched. The new containers included in the expanded CDS will not be accepted at return points until mid-2027 when the service is anticipated to be launched.
Since the scheme began in 2018 more than 20 return points have been established. This includes cash back depots, reverse vending machines, and a donation station.
In that time there have been more than 430 million containers returned via local return points.
Find out more about the ACT Container Deposit Scheme.
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