Return and Earn

Container Deposit Scheme (Return and Earn)

The NSW Government’s Return and Earn container deposit scheme makes it easy to recycle bottles, cans, and drink containers while earning a refund. By using local return points, residents help reduce litter, keep valuable materials out of landfill, and support a cleaner Southern Highlands. Where you can recycle your containers:

Wingecarribee Shire has four Return and Earn return points, both Reverse Vending Machines (Make sure you check the capacity of the locations before visiting. Click the map address links below for location details: 

⚲ Return and Earn Express Moss Vale Unit 12/9 Red Flds Road Moss Vale

⚲ Highlands Hub Mittagong, 205 Old Hume Highway

⚲ Highlands Marketplace Mittagong, 197 Old Hume Highway 

⚲ Robertson Bowling Club, 1 Yarranga Street 

Expansion of the Return and Earn Scheme

The NSW Government has announced that the Return and Earn container deposit scheme will expand from mid-2027 to include more types of drink containers.

What’s Changing?

From mid-2027, you’ll be able to return:

  • Wine and spirits bottles (150ml–3L)

  • Cordials and juice concentrate containers (150ml–3L)

  • Larger containers (up to 3L) of drinks already in the scheme, like flavoured milk and fruit/vegetable juice

  • Plain milk and health tonics will remain excluded.

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Why the Expansion?

Adding more containers will boost recycling, especially glass, cut down on landfill, and to align NSW with other states and territories, making the scheme more consistent nationwide. The expansion will make an extra 362 million containers eligible each year, including 196 million glass bottles.

Refund Amounts

The refund will stay the same 10 cents per eligible container, no matter the size, shape, or material.

Getting Ready for 2027

The rollout is planned for mid-2027 to give the industry time to update labels, barcodes, and supply arrangements, and return points time to upgrade equipment and transport systems. All states and territories time to work together so the scheme is consistent across Australia

Until then, please keep recycling wine, spirits, and other glass bottles in your yellow-lid kerbside bin (or at your nearest transfer station if kerbside isn’t available).

Working Towards a National Approach

The expansion in NSW is part of a broader national plan to harmonise container deposit schemes across Australia. Queensland has already expanded (2023), and the Northern Territory will follow in 2026. Aligning schemes helps reduce costs for suppliers and confusion for the community.

For more information, visit the NSW EPA – Expansion of the Return and Earn Scheme .

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