Victoria’s new beverage container recycling scheme will begin on November 1, 2023, as part of the state government’s reforms to the state’s waste and recycling sector.
Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt announced the start date for Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, CDS Vic, on Friday, April 14.
CDS Vic will allow Victorians to return their used drink cans, bottles and cartons for a 10-cent refund. The state government said this will reduce Victoria’s litter by up to half, create new economic opportunities, generate 645 jobs and turn drink containers into new recycled products.
CDS Vic also offers Victorian charities, community groups, environmental groups, sporting clubs and educational organisations new ways to raise funds.
These groups and organisations will be able to receive container donations from the community, run a refund collection point or host a container collection drive.
This will encourage more community participation and education around recycling while ensuring households, local clubs and groups can share in the cash benefits of recycling their used cans, bottles and cartons.
VicReturn will coordinate the Scheme and Visy, TOMRA Cleanaway and Return-It will be Network Operators.
The Network Operators will establish and maintain a network of more than 600 refund collection points across the state.
Within 12 months of the scheme commencing, the network operators will be required to have a minimum of one collection point per 14,500 people in metropolitan areas, at least one per town of 750 people in regional areas, and at least one per town of 350 people in remote areas.
Environment Minister Ingrid Stitt said Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme will “maximise the number of cans, bottles and cartons being recycled into new products, put extra cash in Victorian pockets and will reduce the amount of litter in our environment by half.”
“CDS Vic will be Australia’s most accessible and convenient container deposit scheme, with more than 600 refund collection points across the state,” she said.
