South Australia's Container Deposit Scheme was introduced in 1977 and has been effective in reducing litter, increasing resource recovery and reducing waste going to landfill.

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The South Australian Container Deposit Scheme [CDS] is the longest running product stewardship program with the introduction of its Container Deposit Legislation [CDL] in 1977. South Australia’s overall return rate of beverage containers was 76% in 2022–23.

Much has changed since the scheme’s inception, including types of containers, consumer choices, technology and markets for recycled materials. The South Australian Environment Protection Authority’s [SA EPA] commitment to improving the scheme resulted in it commencing a review of the CDS in 2019.

There is a 10-cent deposit and refund on most beverage containers in South Australia. A comprehensive list of all eligible containers under the Environment Protection Act 1993, can be found here.

An interactive map of the approved collection depots across South Australia is available on the EPA’s website.