About Us
Scout Recycling and Return-It Pty Ltd
The Scout Recycling Centre, which has been owned and operated by Scouts SA for more than 49 years, is joining forces with national Container Deposit Scheme industry leader Return-It.
Under the new partnership, our 10 recycling Depots in South Australia will be co-owned by Scouts SA and Return-It.
We will be the same team. Same service. Same name. Same commitment to recycling.
Everything you know and trust stays the same — including our support for Scouts.
In Queensland, our recycling Depot at Slacks Creek will transition to the full ownership of Return-It in December 2025.
This partnership will help advance new, smarter recycling technologies, processes, and systems that benefit our employees, our customers, the environment, and the broader community.
About Return-It
Return-It, which is part of Re.Group, runs more than 370 Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) Depots and return points using advanced technology to make recycling more accessible across Australia. For the past eight years, Return-It has been partnering with community groups and not-for-profits to run 75 Depots across Australia, aligning with our own community values.
About Scouts SA and Recycling
Scouts SA is a not-for-profit community group with more than 110 years of history (1909) delivering services and programs that support youth development through outdoor adventure and life-skill activities. Scouts SA opened its own recycling Depot in 1976 after years of Scout Groups raising funds by collecting and returning bottles—a tradition known as “The Scout Bottle Drive. By 2022, Scouts was operating 10 recycling Depots in SA and one in Queensland. Each year the recycling Depots collectively divert more than 3700 garbage-truck loads of material from landfill, while providing an income for individuals, charities, and community, sport and school groups.
Got Questions. We're Here to Help!
Scouts SA is partnering with national Container Deposit Scheme industry leader Return-It to ensure the ongoing success of our Scout Recycling Centre in South Australia.
Together, we are forming a new partnership that will strengthen our recycling capability and future growth.
From December 2025, our South Australian operations will operate under the new partnership, Scout Recycling and Return-It Pty Ltd. However, the business name will remain “Scout Recycling Centre”. Everything else you value about our service will remain the same.
Our 10 recycling Depots in South Australia will be co-owned by Scouts SA and Return-It.
In Queensland, our recycling Depot will transition to full ownership by Return-It in December 2025.
No. You will continue to see the same team, delivering the same service with the same commitment to recycling. The people and processes you trust are staying in place.
Yes. Our support for Scouts continues unchanged.
The partnership with Return-It will help secure the long-term future of our Scout Recycling Centre, continued employment of our recycling teams, and ongoing returns for investment into our programs for young people.
No changes are planned at this time. Our opening hours are available here Locations.
No. You can continue to recycle with us exactly as before. Any future updates will be clearly communicated well ahead of time.
The transition will take place gradually through 2025 and 2026, with a strong focus on continuity of service. Our customers should expect a seamless changeover.
Contact Us
If you would like further information, please contact us via hq@sa.scouts.com.au
