Regulation and oversight
Recycling Victoria is responsible for the regulation, oversight, and administrative direction of Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme. Recycling Victoria’s statutory role is defined in the Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021 (the CE Act) and Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) (Container Deposit Scheme) Regulations 2022 (the Regulations).
Recycling Victoria’s responsibilities include:
- managing, monitoring, and ensuring compliance with Scheme Coordinator and Zone Operator agreements (which set out the contractual obligations of scheme participants to establish and operate CDS Vic)
- ensuring compliance with statutory provisions
- making decisions in relation to first suppliers and eligible containers
- publishing guidelines and issuing directions to scheme participants
- establishing branding and marketing guidelines for CDS Vic
- collecting information and providing advice to the Victorian Government
- establishing Material Recovery Facilities and Local Government Refund Sharing protocols
- taking action where compliance and other issues are identified.
Scheme payments and contributions methodology
The Scheme Payments and Contribution Methodology (SPCM) outlines the calculation, nature and timing of scheme payments made to and by the CDS Vic Scheme Coordinator.
The SPCM sets out the arrangements for first suppliers’ scheme contributions, export payments, network fees payable to Zone Operators, the service fee payable to Recycling Victoria, refund payments to material recovery facility operators and how financial penalties are charged and collected. The SPCM is approved by the Minister for Environment and may be updated from time to time.
The Scheme Payments and Contribution Methodology was updated in December 2024, with changes coming into effect on 30 May 2025.
The changes include:
- updated timing of payment of the Scheme Coordinator Administration Fee
- Updated timing of issuing certificates and payments to Material Recovery Facility Operators
- Minor administrative corrections.
If you require a copy of the superseded document, please contact us at container.deposit@deeca.vic.gov.au
Disclaimer
Contact us if you need this information in an accessible format. Please call 136 186 or email recycling.victoria@deeca.vic.gov.au.
Consultation on regulation and oversight
Throughout the development of CDS Vic, we have consulted with the recycling industry, local government, Alpine Resorts Victoria, and the beverage industry to ensure CDS Vic will benefit all Victorians and maximise the return of drink containers for recycling.
Determination instruments
As required under the Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021, people who supply, or intend to supply, an eligible container in Victoria must notify the Head, Recycling Victoria who will determine whether the person is, or will be, a first supplier of the eligible container for CDS Vic.
Recycling Victoria has developed formal instruments to determine first suppliers and the eligibility of drink containers for inclusion in CDS Vic:
- First Supplier Determination Instrument for the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme
- Suitable Eligible Container Determination Instrument for the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme
Registering eligible drink containers
If you’re a business supplying drinks in eligible containers in Victoria, you’re required to participate in CDS Vic under the Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021.
For more information about first suppliers and registering eligible drink containers please visit the VicReturn website.
Updated 18 September 2025
About the VIC Government
- The Premier and ministers
- Find a Vic Gov department, agency or service
- Strategies and policies
- Inquiries and royal commissions
Grants and programs
Jobs and careers
Arts, culture and heritage
Business and the workplace
- Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework
- Portable Long Service Authority
- Victoria’s racing industry
- Workforce Inspectorate Victoria
- Liquor licensing, sale and supply
Communities
- Children
- First Peoples - State Relations
- Finding records
- Gender equality & women’s leadership
- LGBTIQA+ equality
- Multicultural communities
- Seniors Online
- Veterans support and commemoration
- Volunteering in Victoria
- Youth Central
Education and training
- Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
- Early childhood education – information for professionals
- Kinder: Best Start, Best Life
- Education – information for parents
- Schools.Vic - information for schools
- Education grants, programs, awards and events
- PROTECT
- TAFE, training and universities sector
- TAFE Victoria
- Victorian Skills Authority
- Apprenticeships Victoria
- Learn Local
Environment, water and energy
Finance and economy
Health and social support
- Family violence reform
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- NDIS and disability services and support in Victoria
- Patient Review Panel
- Transforming Trauma Victoria
Housing and property
Law and justice
- Adoption
- Births, deaths and marriages
- Honorary justices
- Machete ban
- Safeguarding Victorians against terrorism
- Stolen Generations Reparations Package
- Victims of Crime
- Victorian Racing Tribunal
Safety and emergencies
- Emergency Recovery Victoria
- Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation
- Emergency Recovery Resource Portal
- How well do you know fire
- Fire Services Reform
- Water safety
- Marine Search and Rescue
Science and technology
- Data sharing and open data
- Data.vic - discover and access Vic Gov open data
- Developer.Vic - portal for API developers
- Go.vic URL shortener
- Vic Gov IT project dashboard
- Victoria’s free public wi-fi network
- Cyber security in the Victorian Government
Sport and recreation
Traffic and transport
- Cameras Save Lives
- Transport Fines
- Getting Around
- Transport Planning
- Transport Future
- Climate Change and transport
- Future Directions For Transport
- Transport projects
- Ports and Freight
Working in the Victorian Government
- Single Digital Presence home
- Accommodation and Library Services
- Executive employment in the Victorian public sector
- Budget, procurement and funding
- Careers in the Victorian Government
- Council and Regulator Toolkit
- Guidelines for working in government
- Join a government network
- Standards and guidelines
- VicFleet CarPool
- Victorian Government style guide