Rules by country / Asia Pacific / Container deposit schemes in Australia
Container deposit schemes in Australia: what each can costs you
Shoppers get 10 cents back for each empty in every state and territory, and drink suppliers pay for it. In NSW and the ACT the scheme charges suppliers 13.60 cents a can and 13.14 cents a plastic bottle, before GST, from February 2026 to January 2027. We work out what it costs each product and how to price for it.
Supplier prices for NSW and the ACT (Exchange for Change), per container, before GST. They pay for the 10 cent refunds and the scheme's running costs. Other states and territories set their own prices.
A price and pack plan for Australia's deposit schemes
What the schemes cost each product and pack, and the price that carries it best, state by state.
- The scheme cost on every product and pack
- Pass on or absorb it: the most profitable choice for each product, and how sure we are
- Which pack sizes and containers carry the cost best
- A price plan for each retailer, and an Excel model to update with each new price list
How your results look
| Product | Scheme cost a pack | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Lager, 24 x 375ml cans | A$3.26 | Pass on in full |
| Cola, 1.25 litre PET bottle | 13.14 cents | Hold the price point |
| Juice, 6 x 250ml cartons | 28.20 cents | Pass on in steps |
Fictional products. Every real result comes with the expected sales and profit, and a likely range.
Your options
Every option has a fixed price, agreed before we start.
Price and pack plan
- The scheme cost and best choice for each product
- Price plan for each retailer
- Scenario model and a walk-through
Pricing review with the scheme costs
- Everything in the price and pack plan
- Prices and promotions for the whole range
- How your products take sales from each other
Portfolio review
- Everything in the pricing review
- More retailers and data sources
- A plan for each channel
After the project: a refresh before each pricing round, from £2,000 (about A$3,800). Prices are fixed in pounds sterling; amounts in Australian dollars are a guide at October 2026 exchange rates. We're based in the UK and work remotely, in English, under NDA.
How it works
From the first call to your plan in about three weeks.
A free 15-minute call
Tell us about your range. We say whether a review would pay for itself, and quote a fixed price.
Your data
Sales by product and retailer, recipes and costs. We sign an NDA before anything moves.
Your plan
The scheme cost on every product, the best choice and a price plan, walked through with your team.
Container deposit schemes in Australia: the detail
Open only what you need.
- Refund
- 10 cents for each eligible empty returned, in every state and territory
- Who pays
- Drink suppliers pay the scheme for each container they supply. The payments fund the refunds and the scheme's running costs; no deposit is added at the till
- NSW and ACT prices
- February 2026 to January 2027, before GST: aluminium 13.60 cents, PET 13.14, glass 14.03, HDPE 9.28, carton 4.70, steel 10.61
- Other schemes
- Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory each set their own supplier prices
- Since
- South Australia since 1977; Tasmania, the last state to start, since 1 May 2025
Pass it on
Raise the price by the tax or more. Works for products whose sales hold up when the price rises.
Absorb it
Keep the price and take the cost. Works when a rise would push a product past a key price point and lose more profit than the tax.
Change the pack
The charge is per container, so bigger containers carry less of it per litre, and the price differs by material.
What is the container deposit scheme in Australia?
Every state and territory refunds 10 cents for each eligible empty drink container returned. Drink suppliers pay for the schemes through a charge on each container they supply, which ends up in shelf prices.
How much do suppliers pay for the container deposit scheme in NSW?
From February 2026 to January 2027: 13.60 cents for an aluminium can, 13.14 cents for a PET bottle and 14.03 cents for a glass bottle, before GST, charged by Exchange for Change for NSW and the ACT.
Is the container deposit added at the till in Australia?
No. Shoppers don't pay a separate deposit at the till: the supplier's cost is in the shelf price, and shoppers get 10 cents back when they return the empty.
How much does a price and pack plan cost?
A review of up to 10 products has a fixed price from £7,500 (about A$14,000) and takes about three weeks. For 11 to 50 products, a full pricing review costs around £17,500 (about A$33,000). It starts with a free 15-minute call.
Do you work with brands in Australia?
Yes. We're based in the UK and work remotely and in English, under NDA. Prices are fixed in pounds sterling before we start, and the first step is a free 15-minute call.
- Exchange for Change, supplier pricing for NSW and the ACT
- Return and Earn, about the scheme
- Wikipedia, Container deposit schemes in Australia
Checked on 25 October 2026. Rules and rates change, so check the official source before making decisions. This page is not tax advice.