South Australia · Adelaide
Container deposit in SA: what you can return
In South Australia, containers carrying the approved refund marking and bought in SA earn 10 cents at a collection depot. The scheme has run since 1977 and is regulated by the EPA. Wine and spirit bottles, cordial, and juice or flavoured milk containers of 1 litre and above are not eligible. Keep containers whole.
Sources EPA South Australia: container deposit schemeEPA South Australia: collection depotsWhich Bin SA
What do I do with drink containers in SA?
- Check the mark Eligible containers carry the scheme's refund mark. If it is missing, check the scheme's eligibility list or app before you bin it.
- Empty it Every scheme wants the container empty. Lids, crushing and sorting rules differ by scheme, so read the state rules below before you bag them up.
- Bag them by type Most depots pay faster if aluminium, glass and plastic are separated.
the South Australian container deposit scheme has run in SA since 1977, paying 10c a container. Regulated by the EPA (South Australia), with no single scheme operator. Only containers carrying the approved refund marking and bought in SA are refundable. Wine and spirit bottles, cordial, plain milk, and juice or flavoured milk containers of 1 litre and above are excluded. Containers up to three litres are targeted for inclusion in 2027. Sorting is not required, though grouping by material can save time at the depot. There is no legal requirement to remove lids, but the EPA recommends it. Do not crush or flatten containers: the depot has to read the refund marking and see the container was sold in SA, and crushed cans have sharp edges.
Nearest drop-off: Which Bin SA
Which containers can I return in SA?
Beer, cider and soft drink glass bottles, aluminium cans, PET soft drink bottles, bottled water, sports drinks, spirit-based ready-to-drink cans, and juice or flavoured milk containers and cartons under 1 litre. The container must carry the approved refund marking and must have been bought in South Australia. Wine and spirit bottles, cordial, plain milk, and juice or flavoured milk containers of 1 litre and above are excluded.
Why won't the depot refund my wine bottle in SA?
Because South Australia does not include wine and spirit bottles in its scheme, so no deposit was paid on them here and none is refunded. Bottles labelled 10c refund in the participating state or territory of purchase are refundable in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, not in SA. As at September 2026, containers up to three litres are targeted for inclusion in South Australia in 2027, which would bring wine and spirits in.
Do I take the lids off, and can I crush cans?
There is no legal requirement to remove lids in South Australia, though the EPA recommends it because tops are usually a different plastic from the bottle and cause problems in transport and storage. Do not crush or flatten containers. The depot has to see the refund marking and confirm the container was sold in SA, and crushed cans have sharp edges. Depots can refuse containers that are unclean or whose marking is not readable.
Where do I return containers in SA?
At an approved collection depot. The EPA publishes the depot list, and it is worth checking before you drive because sites change. Sorting is not required, but grouping glass, aluminium and plastic can speed up the count. A small number of containers are marked refund available at points of sale and go back to a retailer instead. Returning a large number may mean signing a declaration form.
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