The Victorian Government has marked the start of November with the launch of the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic).
CDS Vic allows Victorians to return eligible drink cans, bottles and cartons for a 10-cent refund at designated points across the state. Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel, and liquid paperboard (carton) drink containers between 150mL and three litres are eligible. It is recommended that they are not crushed, as some refund points won’t be able to accept them.
Environment minister Steve Dimopoulos said CDS Vic will maximise the number of cans, bottles and cartons being recycled into new products and keep them out of landfill.
“Our new Container Deposit Scheme is now open, which will reduce the amount of litter in Victoria by up to half – contributing to a more sustainable future while putting money back in the pockets of hardworking Victorians,” he said.
Currently, in the urban parts of the Yarra Ranges shire, there are four over-the-counter refund points at:
Fang and Yaoxin Mini Mart Mooroolbark, 108 Hayrick Lane, Mooroolbark, open 8am to 8pm Monday to Sunday.
Cardigan Cellars Xpress Mart Mooroolbark, 101B Cardigan Road, Mooroolbark, open 7am to 10pm Tuesday to Saturday and 7am to 9.30pm Monday and Sunday.
Madcutz Barbers Mooroolbark, 45 Manchester Road, Mooroolbark, open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm
Cellarbrations Mount Evelyn, 6/1 York Road, Mount Evelyn, open 10.30am to 8.30pm Saturday to Tuesday, 10.30am to 9pm Wednesday and Thursday and 10.30am to 9.30pm Fridays.
Croydon and Wandin North are also offering over-the-counter collections.
All residing in the north zone means local refund points are overseen by Visy.
Within nine months of the scheme starting, the Zone 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. The scheme will expand further in 2024.
Head of the Marketing Department at RMIT University Dr Linda Robinson people’s housing situation and access to recycling facilities are factors that will determine how a consumer engages in the scheme.
“It is important that consumers can see how to make it work for their household, such as neat and clean ways to store containers alongside their regular rubbish and recycling, as well as how to carry or transport them to a refund point,” she said.
“It’s not just the habit of collecting and storing the containers, but the actual practice of returning the containers that will be important for consumers, promoting strategies for returning containers will be an important factor, such as encouraging consumers to put ‘return containers’ at the top of their shopping list each week as part of their normal shopping habits. “
