How a container deposit return scheme works
A nationwide take back system
Consumers pay a deposit (like 20c) when they buy a drink in a bottle, can or carton. They get their deposit back when they return the empties to their local supermarket or depot.
Empties can also go into kerbside recycling bins, with the deposits going to council or contractors to help cover the cost of the collection and sorting service.
Anyone who finds littered drink containers can claim the deposit. Organisations can collect up empties and claim the deposits as a fundraiser. Bottle Drives like this used to happen in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Drink producers become responsible for helping set up and fund take back systems for the drink containers they put on the market via a managing agency.
The New Zealand scheme has been designed to minimise any cost of living impacts by including a mix of return-to-retail and local depots so the scheme is fair and it is easy for everyone to get their deposits back.
Return to retail
Shops that sell a lot of drinks, like supermarkets, would be required to take back empty bottles, cans and cartons. This makes it easy for people to drop off their empties and claim their deposits when they do their shopping. This is called ‘Return to Retail’. Supermarkets usually have a reverse vending machine in their foyer which counts and sorts the containers and refunds the deposits. Supermarkets get a handling fee to cover costs.
Return to retail
Shops that sell a lot of drinks, like supermarkets, would be required to take back empty bottles, cans and cartons. This makes it easy for people to drop off their empties and claim their deposits when they do their shopping. This is called ‘Return to Retail’. Supermarkets usually have a reverse vending machine in their foyer which counts and sorts the containers and refunds the deposits. Supermarkets get a handling fee to cover costs.
Dive deeper
How it works
Bottle deposit schemes work well in other countries. We want our Government to introduce one here.
Take action
Help us push for a well-designed container return scheme in Aotearoa to create jobs and protect te taiao
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