Regional Project
Advance Recovery Fees and Deposits
Advance Recovery Fees and Deposits (Also known as: Container Deposits, Beverage Deposits, Bottle Bills, Extended Producer/Importer Responsibility, Product Stewardship, Sustainable Financing, Waste Levy, Advance Disposal Fees)

Advance Recovery Fees and Deposits (Also known as: Container Deposits, Beverage Deposits, Bottle Bills, Extended Producer/Importer Responsibility, Product Stewardship, Sustainable Financing, Waste Levy, Advance Disposal Fees)
By design, Advance Recovery Fee and Deposit (ARFD) systems provide a regular funding mechanism to enable the collection and export of recyclable items. When target items are imported, a small fee and deposit is applied – the “fee” providing recycling agencies with a sustainable income to fund recycling activities, and the “deposit” providing an incentive for consumers to return products to a recycle collection point (and be refunded their deposit).


Project Description
Palau, Kiribati, FSM states, RMI, and Tuvalu have systems in place. From the success of these systems, other countries in the Pacific are looking to ARFD systems as a solution to provide the funding mechanism to collect and process recyclable materials.
Also known as Container Deposits, Beverage Deposits, Bottle Bills, Extended Producer/Importer Responsibility, Product Stewardship, Sustainable Financing, Waste Levy, Advance Disposal Fees.
By design, Advance Recovery Fee and Deposit (ARFD) systems provide a regular funding mechanism to enable the collection and export of recyclable items. When target items are imported, a small fee and deposit are applied – the “fee” providing recycling agencies with a sustainable income to fund recycling activities, and the “deposit” providing an incentive for consumers to return products to a recycling collection point (and be refunded their deposit). Palau, Kiribati, FSM states, RMI, and Tuvalu have systems in place. From the success of these systems, other countries in the Pacific are looking to ARFD systems as a solution to provide the funding mechanism to collect and process recyclable materials.
The purpose of this regional project is to raise awareness of Advance Recovery Fees and Deposits (ARDF) systems; and to provide resources and raise the capacity of Pacific Island countries to enable informed evidence-based decisions on the 21-step Pathway for the design and implementation of a successful ARDF system, considering the context of each country. The Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu have chosen ARDF as a priority or secondary priority of their PacWastePlus country project. Kiribati*, Nauru, and RMI* are also utilising PacWastePlus legislative support outside the Country Projects (KRA 2).
* Expanding the scheme beyond beverage containers
What will the project do?
The ARFD Regional Project will utilise existing ARFD schemes and findings and resources from Country Projects to:
- Review and undertake a detailed legislative assessment of existing Sustainable Finance Systems in the region (inc Aust & other SIDS).
- Using findings from KRA2 Feasibility Studies and other resources, develop a practical hands-on “Design it Yourself” Workbook to guide countries through the 21-step Pathway
- Develop and deliver ARFD Design Training Modules to guide completion of the “Design it Yourself” workbook.
Latest news & updates
Browse through all the news & updates related to this project
Project resources
Browse through all the resources published from this project.

Video Resource
Sustainable Financing for Waste Management Study Tour: 10 key elements that make a successful scheme
A short video to share findings from the Sustainable Financing for Waste Management Study Tour on 10 key elements that make a successful scheme. These elements may be useful for consideration as we design and build our schemes in the Pacific.

Booklet
GEDSI in Design of Sustainable Financing Scheme for Waste Management
This Guide for Considering Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Factors is designed to assist decision-makers in the Pacific during the design, consultation, implementation, and monitoring of a Waste Management Sustainable Financing Scheme to ensure potential GEDSI implications are identified and appropriately addressed.

Regional
Webinar Report: Sustainable Financing for Waste Management
Report on an interactive webinar held on 28 June 2022, which presented opportunities for Pacific Island Countries to undertake peer-to-peer learning on the implementation or expansion of a Sustainable Financing for Waste Management scheme, and the launch of the Sustainable Financing for Waste Management in the Pacific community of practice on the Green Forum.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
- PICs faced with the increasing issue of stockpiles of recyclable materials
- Limited viable options for their recycling/export
- From the success of current systems in place, Countries looking to ARFD systems as a solution
- Project designed to increase knowledge/ expertise on how to design and implement ARFD system to suit needs of your country
-
1.Education – inform strategic planning and decision-making processes
2.Pilot studies
3.Decision Support Resources / Training – package to guide project owners through decision making process, considering operational, financial, and legal factors