Container Deposit Scheme

Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme, CDS Vic, is starting 1st November 2023.

It will be a new and easy way for Victorians to recycle drink containers, earn money and keep Victoria clean from litter.

In December 2021, the Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021 (the act) was passed by the Victorian Parliament. The Act is a central part of a once-in-a-generation reform of Victoria's waste and recycling system. It gives effect to the CDS and will help us move towards a circular economy.

Input from the community, businesses, community groups and environmental groups has helped to shape the design of CDS Vic for more and better recycling and less waste.

CDS Vic will reward Victorians with a 10 cent refund for every eligible drink container they return to a refund collection point. They can choose to keep the refund or donate the funds to a charity, community group, environmental not for profit, educational organisation or sports group.

The scheme is designed to deliver:

  • more and better recycling
  • less waste - old containers become new ones
  • less litter - cut by up to half
  • hundreds of new jobs and economic opportunities across Victoria
  • a cleaner, greener state.

A scheme Coordinator and three Network Operators will run the scheme.

VicReturn is the Scheme Coordinator and will be managing the administrative and financial aspects of the scheme.

Return-It, TOMRA Cleanaway, and Visy are the Network Operators and will be establishing and maintaining a network of refund collection points in their appointed zones.

Visy are responsible for establishing collection points and collecting eligible containers across the Loddon Shire.

How will the Container Deposit Scheme work?

  • You purchase a drink.
  • You return your empty drink container to a refund collection point.
  • You receive a 10 cent refund for every eligible container you return. You can choose to keep the funds or donate to a participating charity, community group, environmental group, educational organisation or sports group.
  • Your returned container is given a new lease on life. The material is recycled and remanufactured into a new product, saving it from landfill or littering the environment.

Which containers will be eligible for a refund?

CDS Vic will target beverage containers that most commonly contribute to litter and are often consumed away from home. These include plastic soft drink bottles, small fruit juice and flavoured milk cartons, along with soft drinks and alcohol sold in cans.

Eligible containers include:

  • Most beverage containers (between 150ml and 3L) made from:
  • Aluminium
  • Plastic bottles
  • Glass bottles
  • Steel bottles/cans
  • Paperboard cartons (ie Fruit juice boxes & flavoured milk under 1L)

Ineligible containers include:

  • Wine bottles
  • Spirit bottles
  • Milk containers
  • Paperboard cartons (over 1L)
  • Cordial bottle

Who will run the scheme?

Visy are the Network Operators and are responsible for establishing and maintaining collection points across Loddon Shire.

What type of refund point will Loddon Shire residents have as determined by Visy?

Over the counter refund point - may be located at businesses and or organisations in the community. Once you hand over the containers, they will count them and provide a refund.

Where will I be able to return my drink containers?

Locations for Loddon Shire can be found at https://cdsvic.org.au/locations

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