Exchange for Change
Exchange for Change is a joint venture scheme coordinator managing the NSW and ACT Container Deposit Schemes on behalf of beverage suppliers, network operators, and government. The company processes billions of containers annually through registration, reporting, and refund claim portals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Exchange for Change does
Exchange for Change (EfC) is a private joint venture company, founded in 2017 and jointly owned by five major Australian beverage companies: Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Coca-Cola Amatil (now Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia), Coopers Brewery Limited, CUB Pty Ltd, and Lion Pty Ltd. The company serves as the government-appointed scheme coordinator for the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory Container Deposit Schemes (CDS), operating as Return and Earn in NSW and the ACT CDS in the ACT. Through two separate legal entities (Exchange for Change (NSW) Pty Ltd, ACN 620 512 469; Exchange for Change (ACT) Pty Ltd, ACN 625 238 799), EfC manages the financial operations of both schemes under the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 (NSW) and the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Act 2016 (ACT), with headquarters in Rhodes, NSW.
The company's core operational platform is an online portal (portal.exchangeforchange.com.au) that enables beverage suppliers, exporters, and Material Recovery Facility (MRF) operators to register, submit monthly supply volume reports, and lodge refund claims. Supporting technology includes a quarterly-published eligible container factor methodology based on sampling data from MRFs and kerbside audits, and—deployed in June 2026—AI-based computer vision counting technology at ACT cash-back depots capable of processing up to 600 drink containers per minute. The consumer-facing Return and Earn mobile app enables participants to track returns and refunds via PayPal or bank transfer. Underlying product stewardship assets include contracted network operators (TOMRA Cleanaway for NSW, Return-It Canberra for ACT) and dedicated consumer brands (returnandearn.org.au, actcds.org.au).
EfC operates a transaction-fee revenue model, charging beverage suppliers per-container contributions that vary by material type. NSW contribution rates (Feb 2026-Jan 2027) range from 1.94c to 14.03c per container; ACT rates range from 2.78c to 17.71c. Consumers receive a fixed 10c refund per eligible container. Suppliers, exporters, and MRF operators serve as customer segments under a vertical segmentation approach, with mandatory participation for first suppliers under government mandate. Operational scale is substantial: 3.42 billion containers supplied into NSW and 138.5 million into ACT over a 10-month FYTD period (Jul 2025-Apr 2026), with redemption rates of 67% in NSW and 69% in ACT, and 8 in 10 NSW adults having participated in Return and Earn.
Exchange for Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Exchange for Change
- Legal name
- Exchange for Change (NSW) Pty Ltd and Exchange for Change (ACT) Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://exchangeforchange.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Exchange for Change is a joint venture scheme coordinator managing the NSW and ACT Container Deposit Schemes on behalf of beverage suppliers, network operators, and government. The company processes billions of containers annually through registration, reporting, and refund claim portals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Exchange for Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Product Stewardship Services
- NAICS
- Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Waste Collection (5621)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops) (EUAIANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Secondary Materials Brokerage & Trading (Recovered Commodities) (BPALADAJ)
Keywords
Where Exchange for Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Exchange for Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Supplier contributions (container deposit scheme): Beverage suppliers pay a per-container contribution for every drink container supplied into NSW and/or ACT. Contributions fund scheme operations and administration, including refunds to consumers, network operator payments, and scheme coordination. The contribution amount varies by material type (Aluminium, Glass, HDPE, PET, Liquid paperboard, Steel, Other plastics, Other materials). Fixed pricing model per container with rates updated annually.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | NSW supplier contribution by material type |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | ACT supplier contribution by material type |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Exchange for Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Exchange for Change is the government-appointed scheme coordinator for the NSW (Return and Earn) and ACT container deposit schemes. The company collects per-container contributions from beverage suppliers, distributes funds to network operators (TOMRA Cleanaway in NSW and Return-It in ACT), and administers the end-to-end financial, reporting, and community education operations of the schemes. It also provides an online portal for supplier, exporter, and MRF operator registration, reporting, and refund claims, and supports AI-based container counting at cash-back depots.
Product overview
Exchange for Change operates as a dual-entity scheme coordinator managing two distinct container deposit schemes: the NSW Container Deposit Scheme (branded as Return and Earn) and the ACT Container Deposit Scheme. The core offering consists of coordinating these government-mandated product stewardship programs that enable 10-cent refunds on eligible drink containers. The company provides an integrated portal platform for suppliers, exporters, and Material Recovery Facility operators to manage registrations, reporting, and refund claims. Supporting services include financial operations management (collecting supplier contributions and distributing funds to network operators), marketing and community education, and audit and risk management. The company recently deployed AI-based counting technology at depots for automated container processing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Return and Earn: The NSW Container Deposit Scheme brand name. Return and Earn is the NSW government's container deposit scheme operated by Exchange for Change as scheme coordinator.
- ACT Container Deposit Scheme
Products and services
- NSW Container Deposit Scheme (Return and Earn)
Quantifiable outcome
- 480 million eligible containers recycled since June 2018 in ACT
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Exchange for Change
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Exchange for Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature3 records
Exchange for Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Product Stewardship Centre of ExcellenceminorExchange for Change joined the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence Partnership Program in November 2025. This partnership supports national harmonisation activities and best practice in product stewardship.
- Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty LtdcoreJoint venture partner and shareholder. As one of five founding beverage company shareholders, Asahi helps establish and fund the NSW and ACT container deposit schemes. Combined experience in container deposit schemes worldwide.
- Coca-Cola Amatil (Aust) Pty Ltd (now Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia)coreJoint venture partner and shareholder. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners is a founding shareholder and one of Australia's largest beverage companies, providing industry expertise and funding for the container deposit schemes.
- Coopers Brewery LimitedcoreJoint venture partner and shareholder. Australia's largest independent brewer provides beverage industry perspective and funding for the container deposit scheme operations.
- CUB Pty LtdcoreJoint venture partner and shareholder. Carlton & United Breweries contributes beverage industry expertise and container deposit scheme funding as a founding shareholder.
- Lion Pty LtdcoreJoint venture partner and shareholder. Lion Dairy & Drinks provides beverage industry expertise and funding as a founding shareholder of the joint venture.
- TOMRA CleanawaycoreNetwork operator for the NSW Container Deposit Scheme (Return and Earn). Operates return points and collection depots across NSW where consumers return eligible containers for 10c refunds. Governed by agreement with Exchange for Change.
- Return-It (Canberra)coreNetwork operator for the ACT Container Deposit Scheme. Manages the collection depots and return points across the ACT. Governed by agreement with Exchange for Change.
- NSW Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA)coreScheme regulator for the NSW Container Deposit Scheme. Governs the scheme under the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 (NSW) and issues container approvals. Develops the scheme framework and enforces compliance.
- ACT NoWaste / Transport Canberra and City ServicescoreACT government body regulating the ACT Container Deposit Scheme under the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Act 2016. Manages the ACT Waste Manager role including MRF licensing and refund-sharing agreement approvals.
- Dalmarri (Aboriginal artist group)minorAboriginal artist group commissioned to create bespoke artwork representing Exchange for Change's Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan journey.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Exchange for Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Reloop Platform: Global policy and industry coalition advancing DRS and circular economy legislation. Comparable as an ecosystem participant shaping the regulatory framework within which EfC and similar scheme coordinators operate.
- Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR): Australian industry body representing recycling and resource recovery operators including DRS schemes. Comparable as the industry ecosystem body where EfC participates in national harmonisation discussions.
Emerging players
- TOMRA Cleanaway: Network operator for EfC's NSW scheme and a global reverse-vending technology and collection operator. Comparable because TOMRA provides both network operations and AI/RVM technology that overlaps with EfC's own counting tech deployment.
Regional players
- Circularity Scotland (formerly Zero Waste Scotland DRS programme): Scotland's deposit return scheme operator (scheme administrator role). Comparable as a UK/European DRS scheme coordinator handling supplier obligations and consumer refunds, though geographically distinct from EfC.
- Return-It (Canada): Canadian DRS network operator and technology provider serving British Columbia and other provinces. Comparable as a deposit-return scheme operator using similar AI/visual counting technology and consumer refund models, though geographically distinct.
- Re-turn (Ireland): Ireland's national DRS operator managing supplier fees, retailer obligations, and consumer refunds. Comparable as a national-scale deposit return scheme coordinator operating under similar producer-responsibility legislation.
Direct peers
- WA Return, Earn, Recycle: Western Australian container deposit scheme coordinator (formerly run by WA Return Earn). Direct peer operating the same DRS model with government-appointed coordinator status, network operators, and beverage supplier contributions.
- Recycle BC: British Columbia's extended producer responsibility and beverage container stewardship organization. Direct peer running a regulated producer-funded recycling scheme with a similar steward-of-supply model to EfC.
- VicReturn: Victorian container deposit scheme coordinator operating under similar state-level stewardship legislation. Most direct comparator as an Australian state-based DRS scheme coordinator managing supplier contributions and network operator payments.
- Container Exchange (Queensland): Queensland container refund scheme coordinator (Containers for Change). Direct peer running a near-identical DRS operating model with supplier contributions, network operators, and consumer refund payouts in another Australian state.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Exchange for Change social profiles
Digital presenceExchange for Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Exchange for Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Exchange for Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Exchange for Change M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Exchange for Change
What does Exchange for Change do?
Exchange for Change is the government-appointed scheme coordinator for the NSW (Return and Earn) and ACT container deposit schemes. The company collects per-container contributions from beverage suppliers, distributes funds to network operators (TOMRA Cleanaway in NSW and Return-It in ACT), and administers the end-to-end financial, reporting, and community education operations of the schemes. It also provides an online portal for supplier, exporter, and MRF operator registration, reporting, and refund claims, and supports AI-based container counting at cash-back depots.
Is Exchange for Change a public or private company?
Exchange for Change is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Exchange for Change founded?
Exchange for Change was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Exchange for Change based?
Exchange for Change is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Exchange for Change make money?
One revenue line is on record: supplier contributions (container deposit scheme).
Who are Exchange for Change's main competitors?
Others on record are Reloop Platform and Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR). TOMRA Cleanaway is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Circularity Scotland (formerly Zero Waste Scotland DRS programme), Return-It (Canada) and Re-turn (Ireland). Direct peers are WA Return, Earn, Recycle, Recycle BC, VicReturn and Container Exchange (Queensland).
Does Exchange for Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for Exchange for Change.
What industry is Exchange for Change in?
Exchange for Change's product category is Product Stewardship Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIANAE, Reusable Packaging & Refill Systems (Returnable Transport Items, Deposit/DRS Ops), with a secondary code of BPALADAJ, Secondary Materials Brokerage & Trading (Recovered Commodities). Its NAICS code is 562920 and its SIC code is 4953.