A million and beyond for deposit scheme

Victorians have returned more than 100 million containers, and pocketed over $10 million in refunds in just two months.

Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale marked the milestone at the new Return-It depot at Wonthaggi - one of around 400 convenient refund points across the state.

The Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) is breaking records every week, with 15.8 million containers collected in the week before Christmas and a record 17.1 million containers returned in the first week of 2024.

The biggest day to date was Friday, January 5 with 3.18 million containers returned.

Ms Crugnale said the CDS is processing an average of around 10 million cans, cartons and bottles across the state every week, with Victorians returning an average of 129 containers per transaction.

In Cowes, about 700 cans, bottles and cartons were recycled on the first day of the scheme in November.

CDS vending machines are located at IGA in Cowes (161-163 Thompson Avenue) and San Remo (135 Marine Parade), and containers can be deposited at Can Collect Cowes (14 Harvey Drive).

Eligible containers received a 10-cent refund.

Fundraising

Speaking with local Manager, Will Hams, Ms Crugnale said there is a great selection of local groups, clubs, schools and charities at the Wonthaggi and Cowes Depot sites benefiting from the scheme already and there is  opportunity for many more to register.

The Depots have been very busy over the summer holiday period as have the teams providing excellent assistance and an outstanding service.

Victorians can choose to pocket the refund or donate their containers to one of the 1600 participating charities, sports, community, environmental or educational groups.

"The new Wonthaggi and Cowes depots and the Reverse Vending machines across Bass are such a fabulous opportunity for our local community to make a big difference to the environment - supporting local organisations and also putting money back into the hands of Victorians," Ms Crugnale said.

"I totally recommend any interested not for profit organisation to register at www.cdsvic.org.au so community members can choose to donate directly."

Returned drink containers can be transformed into all kinds of new things, including material for roads, furniture, construction, textiles and more - creating new economic opportunities and will support more than 600 jobs across Victoria.

Of all the containers returned since the scheme commenced, aluminium cans have been the most popular making up 53 percent of returns, followed by PET (26 percent), glass (18 percent).

Container returns continue to increase and Ms Crugnale said Victoria's network of refund points will continue to grow to meet demand, making the scheme the most convenient and accessible in the country.

To find your nearest refund point and for more information, visit www.cdsvic.org.au