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Understanding your obligations

If you supply eligible beverage containers into Queensland, you may have obligations under the Queensland container refund scheme.

This page explains who needs to register, key beverage manufacturer obligations and where to find additional guidance.

Do I need to register?

You may need to register if you:

  • Manufacture eligible beverages in Queensland
  • Import eligible beverages into Queensland
  • Supply eligible beverage containers into Queensland for sale.

Before registering, check whether your containers are eligible under the scheme.

Beverage manufacturer obligations

Registered beverage manufacturers are responsible for:

  • Registering eligible beverage containers
  • Reporting eligible container sales volumes
  • Paying scheme contributions
  • Meeting requirements under their Container Recovery Agreement
  • Providing information required under the scheme.

 

Aluminium beverage can showing barcode, recycling symbol and container deposit refund marking.

Refund mark requirements

Eligible beverage containers supplied in Queensland must display a refund mark and a barcode.

An exception applies to glass wine and spirit bottles, which have until 1 January 2027 to display a refund mark.

The refund mark and barcode must be:

  • clear and legible
  • appropriate for the size and shape of the container
  • positioned so they can be easily identified and scanned.

There is no prescribed wording for the refund mark. However, the most commonly used wording is:

10c refund at collection depots/points in participating state/territory of purchase

 

Do I need a new barcode to register my products?

No. Once you have entered into a CRA with COEX, you can register eligible products through the CDS Business Portal.

You do not need to create additional barcodes specifically for the scheme. Existing product barcodes can be used when registering eligible containers.

FAQs

Who is considered a beverage manufacturer under the scheme?

Under the regulations, there are different types of beverage manufacturers depending on where a beverage product enters the Queensland supply chain and who first sells it with the intention that it will be consumed, or further sold for consumption, in Queensland.

We refer to this as the first sale.

Depending on your supply chain, the first sale may be made by:

  • a beverage manufacturer (the maker of the product)
  • a distributor
  • an importer
  • a retailer.

The Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 defines a beverage manufacturer as the party that effects the first transfer of title of a beverage product in Queensland.

If you make the first sale of an eligible beverage product in Queensland, you are responsible for registering the product and making initiative contributions.

If you do not make the first sale in Queensland, you are not required to make initiative contributions for that product. However, you should ensure the product has been registered by the party responsible for the first sale.

First Sale Guide
For more information about the first sale, read our First Sale Guide.
Read here

Can I opt out of the scheme?

No. If you sell eligible beverage products in Queensland, you are required by legislation to register with the scheme.

It is an offence to sell an eligible beverage product in Queensland unless the product is registered with COEX and you have entered into a CRA with COEX.

I engage a third party to manufacture a beverage product for me. Who is responsible for making contributions?

This depends on your commercial arrangement with the third-party manufacturer.

If the third party sells the beverage product to you and ownership transfers in Queensland, they are considered to have made the first sale and are responsible for reporting sales and making initiative contributions.

If the third party only provides a manufacturing service and never owns the beverage product, there may be no transfer of title when the product is delivered to you. In this case, you make the first sale when you first sell the beverage product into the Queensland supply chain.

You are then responsible for reporting sales and making initiative contributions.

What laws govern the scheme?

Queensland’s container refund scheme is established under state legislation. These laws set out the obligations of beverage manufacturers, including container eligibility, product registration, reporting requirements and participation in the scheme.

Key legislation includes:

Need help?

If you’re unsure whether you need to register or want to better understand your obligations, visit our contact page to find the right support team.

Contact us

 

Disclaimer: This page is a general guide only and is provided to help you understand Queensland’s container refund scheme. It does not replace the legislation and should not be relied on as legal advice. Requirements and obligations depend on the law in force at the relevant time. While we aim to keep this information accurate and up to date, you should check the applicable legislation and seek your own advice if you are unsure about your obligations under the scheme.