Australia’s most convenient and accessible beverage container recycling scheme will begin on 1 November 2023 as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s landmark reforms to the state’s waste and recycling sector.
City of Casey Manager Sustainability and Waste, Michael Jansen says “Casey welcomes the state-wide roll out of the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) as another measure that will support a Circular Economy and help reduce street litter in the community”.
“The roll out will place some responsibility onto producers to ensure their products are collected and recycled, and will also act as an incentive for consumers to do the right thing,” he said.
Environment Minister Ingrid Stitt has announced the November 2023 start date for Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) and named 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,” she said.
CDS Vic will allow Victorians to return their used drink cans, bottles and cartons for a 10-cent refund.
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.
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.
They will also need 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 Labor 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 help meet our target of diverting 80 per cent of all material away from landfill by 2030.
VicReturn will be the Scheme Coordinator and Visy, TOMRA, Cleanaway and Return-It will be Network Operators.
