Waste Reduction and Recycling (Strengthening the Container Refund Scheme) Amendment Bill 2026

Introduced: 26/3/2026By: Hon A Powell MPStatus: Referred to Committee

Environment Government & Elections Business & Economy

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Plain English Summary

Overview

This bill overhauls the governance of Queensland's Container Refund Scheme — the 10-cent bottle and can return program — following a parliamentary inquiry that found significant weaknesses in how the scheme is run. It gives the government much stronger oversight of the scheme coordinator (currently Container Exchange), requires an independent board majority, and expands the scheme's purpose to include supporting environmental and community programs.

Who it affects

Everyone who returns containers is affected, as the scheme should become more transparent and better governed. Refund point operators gain new protections against unfair treatment, and small beverage manufacturers may benefit from caps on their scheme contributions.

Key changes

The scheme coordinator's board must have a majority of directors independent of the beverage industry, with expertise in waste, local government and community enterprise
The Minister gains new powers to issue directions, require audits, appoint a special manager to monitor operations, or appoint an administrator to take over if needed
Surplus scheme funds can now support environmental and community programs instead of only offsetting beverage industry costs
Container lids can now be collected and recycled through the scheme
The coordinator must consider the economic viability of existing refund points before opening new ones nearby, and is prohibited from acting unfairly towards scheme participants
Small beverage manufacturers may receive financial relief through caps on their scheme payments

How this affects you

Environment

•Surplus funds from the container refund scheme can now be directed towards environmental programs like litter reduction and recycling infrastructure, rather than subsidising the beverage industryClause 11, s 102AK(2)(i)-(j)The PRO's functions are expanded to include supporting the development of infrastructure required to transport and recycle waste in Queensland, and supporting environmental or community programs related to the scheme.
•Container lids can now be collected and recycled through the refund scheme, reducing plastic wasteClause 6Amends s 99M to clarify that a container is a container whether or not it includes any closure, lid or cap that may be attached.
•The scheme coordinator must now actively ensure all Queensland communities can access a container refund pointClause 11, s 102ALThe Organisation must use all reasonable endeavours to establish and maintain a network of container refund points that enables all communities in Queensland to access a place for the return of empty beverage containers.

Government & Elections

•The Minister gains strong new powers to oversee the container refund scheme, including appointing a special manager or administrator if the scheme coordinator is not performingClause 11, Division 8The Minister may impose conditions, appoint a special manager, appoint an administrator, suspend or cancel the PRO's appointment.
•The scheme coordinator becomes subject to the Crime and Corruption Act, meaning corrupt conduct can be investigated by the CCCClause 11, s 102AOThe Organisation is a unit of public administration under the Crime and Corruption Act 2001, to the extent the Organisation is performing a function of the Organisation.
•The coordinator must publish corporate documents, reports, director pay and Ministerial directions on its website for public scrutinyClause 11, s 102CERequires publication of corporate documents, annual and quarterly reports, director remuneration, template scheme agreement terms and Ministerial directions.

Business & Economy

•Small beverage manufacturers may pay less under the scheme through new caps on their contributionsClause 8Enables a regulation to prescribe a maximum amount or method of calculating a maximum amount that small beverage manufacturers must pay under container recovery agreements.
•Container refund point operators gain protection against unfair treatment by the scheme coordinator, and their economic viability must be considered before new refund points open nearbyClause 11, ss 102BI and 102AL(3)The Organisation must not act unfairly or unreasonably discriminate against scheme participants, and must consider the economic viability of operators of existing container refund points.
•Large beverage manufacturers lose majority control of the scheme coordinator's board, with no more than two directors able to be nominated by large manufacturersClause 11, s 102AG(5)If the members of a company appointed as the Organisation include large beverage manufacturers, not more than 2 of the directors may be nominated by or required to be appointed by those members.

Bill Journey

Introduced26 Mar 2026

Referenced Entities

Sectors Affected

Waste Management Food and Beverage

Classified using AGIFT/ANZSIC Australian government standards

Waste Reduction and Recycling (Strengthening the Container Refund Scheme) Amendment Bill 2026

Plain English Summary

Overview

Who it affects

Key changes

Bill Journey

Referenced Entities

Legislation

Organisations

Programs & Schemes

Roles & Offices

Sectors Affected

Source Documents