MRFs

Getting started

A material recovery facility (MRF) operator is a business that processes domestic kerbside yellow bin and commercial material for recycling or reuse. 

MRF operators are an important part of the NSW and ACT container deposit schemes. They work by agreement with councils to process and claim refunds for eligible containers collected through kerbside collections.

Contact us to register to participate as a MRF operator in the NSW or ACT container deposit schemes.

Are you registered?

NSW
ACT

Processing refund protocols

NSW EPA’s Container Deposit Scheme Material Recovery Facility Processing Protocol governs the processing of refunds claimed by a MRF operator. It sets out the methodology for processing refunds and outlines two options for claiming refunds:

  • by weight: a MRF operator can submit a claim for a refund based on weights of material types, which EfC multiplies by the eligible container factor, converting weight into number of containers. Eligible container factor.
  • by direct count: a MRF operator can count each eligible container that they send offsite for reuse or recycling.

Claims by bottle crushing service (BCS) operators are governed under NSW EPA’s Bottle Crushing Service Operator Processing Refund Protocol (PDF ).

What are your obligations?

As a participating MRF operator you must meet all obligations set out in the Protocol including:

Requirement Details
Licenses Hold environmental protection licenses or written approval from the NSW EPA.
Refund-Sharing Agreements
  • You are required to negotiate a refund-sharing agreement with councils that supply your kerbside material. This arrangement must be council approved.
  • EfC is not obliged to pay refunds without an agreement in place.
  • EfC maintains the NSW CDS Council Agreements Register – email notifications to [email protected] and cc [email protected].
  • The Refund Sharing Agreement and Processing Agreement Notification Form can be accessed here.
Reporting
  • Complete monthly reporting for processed containers.
  • Report total monthly and quarterly throughput data via our portal
Submit a Claim Submit a processing refund claim via our portal.
Audit
  • Keep electronic or hard-copy records supporting each claim.
  • Records will be audited quarterly to ensure compliance with the MRF Protocol.
Annual Declaration MRF Operators:
EfC will pre-fill and provide an Annual Throughput Reconciliation for submission within 28 days of the financial year-end.

BCS Operators:
Submit an Annual Recycling Statement to EfC and NSW EPA within 60 days of the financial-year end.

How to make a claim

You must lodge a claim via our portal within 28 calendar days of the end of the relevant quarter.

We will assess your claim and calculate the total processing refund based on the number of eligible containers (using output material types multiplied by the relevant eligible container factor, minus any sampling costs). We have the right to refuse a claim if it is not in accordance with the MRF protocol.

We will pay the processing refund within 10 business days of completing the assessment.

Key Date Due
Monthly reporting due 14 calendar days from end of month
Quarterly claim submission due 28 calendar days from end of quarter
Assessment of claim by EfC 20 business days from submission due date
Payment of processing refunds Within 10 business days after claim assessment complete
MRF operator annual throughput reconciliation due 28 calendar days from end of financial year
BCS operator annual recycling statement due 60 calendar days from end of financial year

Key forms for MRF operators

The following forms can be used to meet requirements under the MRF Protocol (please open in Acrobat, not in the browser):

Refund Sharing Agreement and Processing Agreement Notification Form (doc, 445kb) 

Download doc

Additional MRF Notification form (pdf, 220kb)

Download PDF

Alternative Weighing Equipment (pdf, 180kb)

Download PDF

Application for Container factor - Material type form (pdf, 145kb)

Download PDF

Claim Method Notification (pdf, 102kb)

Download PDF

Eligibility Confirmation (pdf, 414kb)

Download PDF

Inter-MRF Transfer - Receiving MRF (pdf, 196kb)

Download PDF

Inter-MRF Transfer - Sending MRF (pdf, 167kb)

Download PDF

Non-claimable Materials Application (pdf, 133kb)

Download PDF

Stock On Hand Assessment (pdf, 124kb)

Download PDF

Processing refund protocol

The ACT Government’s MRF Processing Refund Protocol governs the processing of refunds claimed by a MRF operator under the ACT scheme. It sets out the methodology for processing refunds and outlines two options for claiming refunds:

  • weight: a MRF operator can estimate the number of eligible containers they send offsite for reuse or recycling using weights of material types multiplied by the eligible container factor.
  • by direct count: a MRF operator can count each eligible container that they send offsite for reuse or recycling.

What are your obligations?

As a participating MRF operator you must meet all obligations set out in the Protocol including:

Requirement Details
Licenses Hold a waste processing licence issued by the ACT Waste Manager for processing materials collected from yellow-lid bins, co-mingled recycling collection services or recyclable material from other states.
Refund-Sharing Agreements
  • You must meet the refund sharing requirements set out by the MRF Protocol.
  • This includes approval by the ACT Waste Manager in writing for any Refund Sharing Agreement or the absence of one.
Reporting
  • Complete monthly reporting for processed containers.
  • You must report your total monthly and quarterly throughput data in our requested format via our portal.
Submit a Claim Submit a processing refund claim via our portal.
Audit
  • You must keep electronic or hard copy records of documents that support each claim.
  • We will audit your records each quarter to ensure you have complied with your obligations under the MRF Protocol.
Annual Declarations You must submit:
  • Annual Throughput Reconciliation
  • Annual Recycling Statement
to us within 45 business days from the end of the financial year.
You must also perform an annual independently assured stocktake on 30 June each year.

How to make a claim

You must lodge a claim via our portal within 28 calendar days from the end of the relevant quarter.

We will assess your claim and calculate the total processing refund based on the number of eligible containers (using output material types multiplied by the relevant eligible container factor, minus any sampling costs). We have the right to refuse a claim if it is not in accordance with the MRF protocol.

We will issue your claim assessment within 20 business days after the 28-day claim period at the end of each quarter.

We will pay the processing refund within five business days following the issuance of your claim assessment.

Key Dates Due
Monthly reporting due 10 business days from end of month
Quarterly claim submission due 28 calendar days from end of quarter
Assessment of claim by EfC 20 business days from end of quarter
Payment of processing refunds Within 5 business days after claim assessment complete
Annual Throughput Reconciliation due 45 business days from end of financial year
Annual Recycling Statement due 45 calendar days from end of financial year
Eligible container factors
About usContact usNSW CDSACT CDS
PortalTerms of usePrivacy policyWhistleblower policy

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the ACT and NSW. We recognise and respect their continuing connection to land,
water and community.