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Glass wine and spirit bottles (150ml up to 3L) are eligible in Queensland from 1 November 2023.

The Queensland Government sets the refund amount for eligible containers based on several factors including consistency across state programs and pricing impacts for beverage manufacturers and customers.

The Queensland Government has given wine and spirit manufacturers until January 2027 to display the 10-cent refund marking on their labels.  During this grace period eligible glass wine and spirit bottles can be returned for a refund without the 10-cent mark.

Only glass wine and spirit bottles with a volume between 150ml and 3L will be eligible for a refund.

No, only glass bottles that have contained wine and pure spirits will be eligible for a 10- cent refund. Check the recycling instructions on the packaging for the correct way to dispose of your wine box.

Animal (cow’s milk) and plant-based (soy or almond) milk is considered to be a staple household item and therefore is excluded for a refund in the Queensland container refund scheme.

From time to time barcode technology experiences issues and barcodes can’t be read (this can happen in any retail or customer facing environment). If this happens when you are using a reverse vending machine visit one of our depots where staff can assist you. Find your closest depot here and search your suburb or postcode and filter by depot.

Containers for Change offers a range of ways to return your empties for a refund. Find the right option for you by taking our quick quiz here. Remember if you’re returning a lot of glass you’ll want to use sturdier bags and boxes to avoid breakages.

Yes, wine and pure spirit glass bottles with a volume between 150ml and 3 litres are accepted at all refund points regardless of the type you use – depot, bag drop, home collection, pop-up, or reverse vending machine. If you have a large load of wine and spirit bottles we recommend returning at a depot where there will be staff on hand to assist you.

It’s best to take your lids off when cashing in your empty wine and spirit bottles. We’d recommend checking with your local council for their tips on how to recycle lids and bottle tops.