FILL up those wool packs and make sure the kids keep those cans – Victoria is about to join its neighbours in South Australia with its own container deposit scheme.
The State Government announced the new scheme - scheduled to begin in November this year – last week, labelling it as “Australia’s most convenient and accessible beverage container recycling scheme” under its “landmark reforms to the state’s waste and recycling sector”.
Environment Minister, Ingrid Stitt announced the start date for the scheme, named CDS Vic and the organisations that will be responsible for delivering the scheme.
“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,” Ms Stitt said.
“CDS Vic will be Australia’s most accessible and convenient container deposit scheme, with more than 600 refund collection points across the state.”
VicReturn will be the scheme coordinator and Visy, TOMRA Cleanaway and Return-It will be Network Operators.
CDS Vic will allow Victorians to return their used drink cans, bottles and cartons for a 10-cent refund, expected to 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.
The network operators will establish and maintain a network of more than 600 refund collection points across the state, making the scheme accessible to all Victorians.
Within 12 months of the scheme starting, 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.
CDS Vic is part of the government’s transformation of the state’s waste and recycling sector.
This includes the new standardised four-stream waste and recycling system, which will help meet a target of diverting 80 per cent of all material away from landfill by 2030.
