First Suppliers

First Supplier Obligations

If you’re a business supplying eligible beverages containers in Victoria, you’re required to participate in Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS VIC) under the Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021.

Enter into supply agreements

A supplier of eligible beverage containers in Victoria will need to enter into the following agreements with us. From 1 November 2023, it will be an offence under Section 110 of the Act to supply eligible containers in Victoria without entering into a Supply Arrangement with VicReturn.

Suppliers will need to enter into the following agreements:

First Supplier Supply Agreement

The Supply Arrangement is an agreement between the supplier and VicReturn which requires the supplier to make contributions towards the scheme, report on the volume of its supplies in Victoria and provide access to independent auditors to verify the data provided to us.

First Supplier Side Deed

The Supplier Side Deed grants the State rights to carry out an obligation under the Scheme Coordinator Agreement or the Supply Agreement, in certain circumstances. This deed may also facilitate the novation of Supply Agreements to a replacement scheme coordinator.

The Common Disputes Deed and Accession Deed Poll
    • The Common Disputes Deed provides a process for determining certain disputes that may involve other suppliers, the Scheme Coordinator, network operator and the State.
    • The Accession Deed Poll is the mechanism by which a supplier becomes a party to the Common Dispute Deed

Obligations as part of the supply agreement

As a First Supplier of Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS VIC) who has registered with us, you have certain obligations as part of the Supply Agreement.

Historical Data
  • First Suppliers must provide to the Scheme Coordinator a statement that specifies the number of eligible containers supplied by the First Supplier in Victoria in the 12-month period immediately prior to the Scheme Commencement Date.
  • This must be provided within 10 business days of the effective date of the supply arrangement.
Monthly Data
  • The First Supplier must provide monthly reporting data for the total number of eligible containers by material type supplied in Victoria for the previous month.
Annual Data
  • The First Supplier must provide an annual statutory declaration each year confirming the accuracy of the prior 12 months’ submissions at the end of each financial year. 
  • The first supplier must also provide the number of suitable eligible containers supplied in Victoria for the previous financial year, aggregated by month as well as aggregated by material type.
FY2023/2024 Annual Statutory Declaration

The First Supplier Annual Statutory Declaration is now available to complete.

As a First Supplier you are required to complete a Statutory Declaration confirming the number of eligible containers supplied in Victoria for the financial year, which for this year starts from Scheme Commencement Date 01 November 2023 and ends on 30 June 2024.

A nominated signatory (eg company director or trustee or sole trader) will need to sign the final declaration, and it must also be witnessed by an authorised signatory prior to upload. A full list of approved witnesses can be found at Statutory declarations | Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria.

To complete the FY2023/2024 declaration, please log into the Business Portal: B2B Portal and click on the green FIRST SUPPLIER ANNUAL STATUTORY DECLARTION button.

Instructions are available via this link:

First Suppliers are required to complete and submit the Statutory Declaration by 23 August 2024. Portal access to the Statutory Declaration functionality will remain open until 15 October 2024.

Supplier Contributions
  • Make contribution payments in line with invoicing requirements (within 5 business days).
  • Pay penalty interest on any overdue amounts if required under the supply arrangement.
Access
  • Provide all required access and reasonable assistance if requested to an independent auditor that has been engaged by the Scheme Coordinator to review any applicable electronic systems or data provided by the first supplier in accordance with the supply arrangement.