Return and Earn NSW: What Containers Are Accepted
Last updated: May 2026
Return and Earn is the New South Wales container deposit scheme. It launched on 1 December 2017 and is now one of the largest CDS programs in the world, with over 650 return points across the state. Drop off an eligible drink container, get 10 cents back per container. Looking for a return and earn near me search? The official locator at returnandearn.org.au is the fastest way to find your closest reverse vending machine, depot or over-the-counter site.
Who runs Return and Earn?
The scheme is administered by Exchange for Change, the not-for-profit scheme coordinator. The collection network itself is run by TOMRA Cleanaway, the joint venture you see behind most of the green reverse vending machines (RVMs) outside shopping centres and supermarkets.
What containers are eligible?
Most drink containers between 150 mL and 3 L with a "10c refund" mark on the label are eligible. The big categories:
- Aluminium cans (soft drink, beer, energy drinks, pre-mixed spirits)
- Glass bottles (beer, cider, kombucha, soft drink, water, some juices)
- PET plastic bottles (water, soft drink, sports drinks, juice)
- HDPE plastic bottles (flavoured milk)
- Liquid paperboard cartons (juice boxes, flavoured milk poppers)
- Steel cans (some imported beverages)
The container must be empty and roughly intact, with the barcode and refund mark still readable.
Not currently accepted in NSW
Glass wine bottles, glass spirit bottles, plain milk containers, cordial and concentrate bottles, cask wine and water, and any container outside the 150 mL to 3 L range. NSW wine and spirit glass coverage is scheduled to begin from mid-2027.
Return and earn near me: where to drop containers off
NSW has the biggest CDS network in the country. You will find return points in three main formats:
- Reverse vending machines (RVMs). The green TOMRA machines outside shopping centres, train stations and supermarkets. Feed containers in one at a time and get a voucher, cash, donation, or bank transfer.
- Automated depots. Drop a bag, get scanned in bulk, walk out with your refund. Faster if you have a stockpile.
- Over-the-counter and pop-ups. Smaller manual sites, often at servos or community halls in regional NSW.
Use the postcode search at returnandearn.org.au to pin down your nearest one. The same network is also searchable on the TOMRA Cleanaway app.
How to use Return and Earn in three steps
- Sort and check. Keep eligible containers separate from your general recycling. Confirm each one has a "10c refund" mark with NSW listed.
- Pick a return point. Find the closest RVM or depot using the locator. Take containers in a bag or box.
- Choose your refund. At an RVM you get a voucher you can cash in, transfer to your bank via the Return and Earn app, or donate to a registered charity, school or sports club.
What about caps and labels?
Return and Earn refunds the bottle. It does not refund the cap, the foil seal under the cap, or any label that falls off in the machine. Those small bits are exactly what BRAD (Banish Recycling and Diversion) takes. BRAD is our by-mail recycling program for the hard-to-recycle items that kerbside and the CDS do not handle. Plastic bottle tops, metal beer caps, ring pulls, wine foils and paper labels can all go in a BRAD box.
BRAD also covers blister packs, chip packets, toothbrushes, cosmetics, pens, alkaline batteries and coffee pods including Nespresso. It does not take e-waste, phones, chargers, cables, fairy lights or lithium-ion batteries; route those to a dedicated e-waste service or Officeworks' Bring It Back scheme.
Want the full national picture? See our container deposit scheme Australia guide for the state-by-state comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the closest return and earn near me?
Use the postcode search at returnandearn.org.au or the TOMRA Cleanaway app. There are over 650 NSW return points: RVMs at most shopping centres, automated depots in metro areas, and over-the-counter sites in regional towns.
How much do you get back per container in NSW?
10 cents per eligible container, the same as every state and territory.
Can I return wine bottles in NSW?
Not yet. NSW is scheduled to accept wine and spirit glass bottles from mid-2027. Until then, wine bottles go in your yellow-lid kerbside bin.
What if my container has no 10c refund mark?
It is not eligible for a refund and will be rejected at the RVM. Most of those containers (for example plain milk and large cordial bottles) can still go in kerbside recycling.
What do I do with bottle caps?
Caps are not refunded by Return and Earn. Send them through BRAD alongside other small hard-to-recycle items.