Friday, 25 August 2023
Australia’s most accessible and convenient container deposit scheme is a step closer, with the roll out of refund points continuing to progress across Victoria in preparation for the scheme’s 1 November start.
Melissa Horne announced a Reverse Vending Machine for Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, CDS Vic, has been installed at West Gate Fitness – Altona, 61 Dohertys Road, Altona North.
CDS Vic will reward Victorians with a 10 cent refund for every eligible used drink can, bottle and carton. There will be more than 600 refund points across the state and four different ways to return eligible containers – reverse vending machines, depots, over-the-counter sites, and bag drops and collections.
CDS Vic will reduce Victoria’s litter by up to half, create new economic opportunities, generate around 640 jobs across the state, in both regional and metropolitan Victoria, and turn drink containers into new recycled products.
CDS Vic will be run by Scheme Coordinator, VicReturn, and three zone operators, TOMRA Cleanaway, VISY, and Return-It, who will establish and oversee the refund points, provide refunds to customers, and ensure proper recycling of the containers.
The zone operators are each responsible for a part of Victoria, which has been separated into three scheme zones: north, east and west.
CDS Vic also offers Victorian charities, community groups, environmental groups, sporting clubs and educational organisations new ways to raise funds through collection drives, by operating refund points, or receiving direct donations from the community.
The scheme is part of the Victorian Government’s $515 million investment to transform the state’s waste and recycling sector. This includes the new standardised four-stream waste and recycling system, which will meet the target of diverting 80 per cent of all material away from landfill by 2030.
More information about CDS Vic can be found at www.cdsvic.org.au .
Quotes attributable to Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt
“CDS Vic will maximise the number of cans, bottles and cartons being recycled into new products and reduce the amount of litter in our environment by half, while putting extra cash in Victorian pockets and creating local jobs.”
“Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme will be the most accessible and convenient scheme in the country, with more than 600 refund points across the state.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Williamstown Melissa Horne
“This is a great opportunity to help clean up our environment, while helping Altona North sporting clubs, community groups and schools to raise valuable funds through collection drives and donations.”
Ends.
Media contact: melissa.horne@parliament.vic.gov.au