Queensland’s container refund scheme, Containers for Change, gives people an incentive to collect and return containers for recycling in exchange for a 10-cent refund payment, according to the Queensland Government’s About Containers for Change page, last updated 16 September 2026. This guide explains who runs the scheme, which containers count, how to return them in Brisbane, how the refund is paid and what is left out. For what belongs in your household bins, see our Brisbane Recycling and Waste Guide.
Who runs the scheme
The Queensland Government appointed the not-for-profit group Container Exchange (CoEx) as the Product Responsibility Organisation to develop and run the scheme, per the qld.gov.au page last updated 16 September 2026. That page says the costs of operating the scheme and recovering the containers for recycling are paid for by drink manufacturers. The Containers for Change website, read on 10 November 2026, describes COEX as a not-for-profit organisation created to establish and run the scheme in Queensland.
The scheme’s own about page, which is undated, says Queenslanders go through around 3 billion drink containers each year. The home page states that 12.9 billion containers had been returned through refund points as at 1 November 2026.
Which containers are eligible
The Queensland Government’s eligible containers page, last updated 16 September 2026, says you can receive a refund for most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard beverage containers between 150ml and 3L. It adds that eligible containers need to display a refund marking. The scheme’s home page, read on 10 November 2026, suggests checking for the 10c mark. Its how-it-works page says you can also scan a container’s barcode in the scheme’s app to check eligibility, and the return page reminds people to take lids off.
Wine and spirit bottles
The scheme’s wine and spirit page, read on 10 November 2026, says glass wine and spirit bottles between 150mL and 3L are eligible for a 10-cent refund. The Queensland Government’s proposed expansion page, last updated 16 September 2026, says that from 1 November 2023 a 10 cent refund is available on glass wine and pure spirit bottles returned to a container refund point. It adds that these bottles can alternatively continue to go in the kerbside yellow-lid bin where that service is provided.
Flavoured milk and iced coffee
The scheme’s blog on milk containers, which is undated and was read on 10 November 2026, lists flavoured milk (150mL to 1L) as eligible in Queensland. It lists bottled or canned iced coffee (150ml to 1L) as eligible too.
What is not accepted
The Queensland Government’s eligible containers page, last updated 16 September 2026, says plain milk containers are not eligible. Large containers (1L or more) that have contained flavoured milk, pure juice, cask wine or cask water are excluded. So are cordial or vegetable juice containers and registered health tonics. The page also says containers smaller than 150mL and bigger than 3L will not be eligible for a refund.
The scheme’s milk blog adds that alternative milks such as oat, almond, soy and coconut are not eligible. For an uncertain item, the same blog says scanning the barcode in the Containers for Change app shows whether it is eligible for a 10c refund in Queensland.
How to return containers in Brisbane
The scheme’s return page, read on 10 November 2026, lists four ways to return containers.
A depot can be walk in or drive through, and staff-counted or self-serve. A reverse vending machine is a barcode-scanning machine you place containers into. With Bag Drop you bag and tag your containers and drop them off, and the scheme says it will process the refund shortly afterwards.
At 10 November 2026, the scheme’s Container Collect page says you collect 100+ eligible containers and book online or in the app. At 10 November 2026, per that page, a 3-cent per container collection fee applies to Container Collect bookings. The same page says registered charities, community groups and holders of selected concession cards may be eligible to have the fee waived. It lists the service as available in 1,000+ suburbs at 10 November 2026. See Queensland Concession Cards Explained for how those cards work.
At 10 November 2026, the how-it-works page says you can search by postcode or suburb. For regional areas, it says pop-ups are run by local depot operators who set a time and location.
Getting paid: member numbers and scheme IDs
At 10 November 2026, the how-it-works page says that if you give your member number at the refund point, the refund goes to your chosen bank account, PayPal (no bank details needed) or a cause. It says signing up is free. The scheme’s help topics label the member number as “AKA scheme ID”. At 10 November 2026, the return page describes a member number as a unique code used at refund points to receive a refund via EFT or PayPal.
At 10 November 2026, the scheme says cash is available immediately if offered at the refund point, and some refund points offer retail vouchers as payment. It also says varying timeframes apply for refunds to a bank account based on your location.
Donating your refund
The Queensland Government About Containers for Change page, last updated 16 September 2026, says container return points can direct the 10 cent refund payment to a registered group, and that some groups run their own donation points where they keep the refund payment. The scheme says there are over 6,000 community groups, schools and charities registered to receive donations, as stated on its how-it-works page at 10 November 2026.
At 10 November 2026, if you have an account, the scheme’s donation page says to set your preferred payment method to ‘a good cause’. If you are not a member, it says to quote or scan the cause’s member number when returning containers. The same page says donations of $2 or more to registered charities made via your own member number may be tax deductible, and advises saving receipts or your return history and seeking tax advice before claiming any deduction.
What may change
The Queensland Government About Containers for Change page, last updated 16 September 2026, says the Bill to strengthen the scheme was passed by the Queensland Parliament on 15 September 2026. At 10 November 2026, per the same page, the Amendment Act will commence on a date to be fixed by proclamation. The scheme lists 13 42 42 (13 4CHANGE) as its contact number, at 10 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much do you get back for each container?
At 10 November 2026, the Queensland Government says Containers for Change gives a 10-cent refund payment in exchange for returned containers. A 3-cent per container fee applies to Container Collect bookings, per the scheme’s Container Collect page.
Is plain milk accepted?
No. The Queensland Government page, last updated 16 September 2026, lists plain milk containers as not eligible.
Are wine bottles accepted?
Yes for glass wine and spirit bottles between 150mL and 3L, per the scheme’s wine and spirit page read on 10 November 2026.
Do I need a member number?
The scheme says a member number is a unique code used at refund points to receive a refund via EFT or PayPal, as at 10 November 2026. It also says cash is available immediately if offered at the refund point.
