Published on Wednesday, 9 April 2025 at 1:45:50 PM

Container deposit scheme (CDS) recycling can get a little tricky. Depending on which state you live in, there are different rules for what can or can’t be recycled, even so, there are some easy ways of picking trash from treasure.

Envirobank is proudly Indigenous-owned. We believe that it’s all of our responsibility to care for Country and that encouraging Australians to actively participate in the circular economy through bottle and can recycling is the best way to do this.

With our tried and tested tech, we’re making it easy to keep eligible bottles and cans out of landfill, so they can get reused again and again… (and again).

What can I recycle?

Check for a 10¢ refund symbol

Here are some hard and fast rules:

• Non-beverage containers such as shampoo and detergent bottles cannot be returned under any state scheme.
• Beer bottles and cans are eligible in every state, however, wine and spirits are only eligible in Queensland.
• Bottles and cans must have a 10¢ refund symbol, be liquid-free, uncrushed and have the barcode intact.
• Lids must be removed in Queensland and Northern Territory, but if you’re in Victoria or New South Wales you can keep them on.

Other plastic bottles

Large plastic bottles, such as milk containers and cordial bottles are not eligible under any state’s scheme. Small bottles, such as probiotic and health tonics are also ineligible for a 10¢ refund.

Why can’t I recycle everything?

Some containers may display a ’10¢’ symbol but still might not be eligible. These containers may not have been approved by the state government or network operator – or, the brand may not have registered the container in the scheme properly.

It’s worth contacting the company or your state environment member, it frustrates us too!

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