The Parliamentary Inquiry into improving Queensland’s Container Refund Scheme has been completed and a report is available on the Parliament website: Improving Queensland’s Container Refund Scheme – Health, Environment and Innovation Committee (PDF, 3.7MB)

The government is considering the Inquiry findings and recommendations to deliver a more effective and accessible container refund scheme, which meets the needs of Queenslanders and achieves Queensland’s recycling targets.

Containers for Change

Eligible containers

Which drink containers are included?

As part of the scheme, you can receive a refund for most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard beverage containers between 150ml and 3L.

All eligible drink containers need to display a refund marking that will make it easy to see which containers can be returned for a refund.

The below pictures show some of the types of drink containers which are included in the scheme.

Eligible drink containers

  • glass containers

Which drink containers are excluded?

A number of drink containers are not eligible for a refund under the scheme. These include:

  • plain milk containers
  • large containers (1L or more) which have contained flavoured milk, pure juice, cask wine or cask water
  • cordial or vegetable juice containers
  • registered health tonics.

All containers that are smaller than 150mL and bigger than 3L will not be eligible for a refund.

The below pictures show some of the types of drink containers which are excluded from the scheme.

Non-eligible drink containers

Find out what can be recycled in your yellow lid bin

Recycling yellow bin

Knowing what items can go in your recycling bin will help make sure we’re recycling as much as we can and recycling correctly.

Last updated:
16 October 2025