Since launching in November 2023, more than 2.3 billion drink containers have been returned through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) putting $234 million back into the community through refunds.
The next phase is about expanding that impact beyond refund points. The scheme is partnering with councils across Victoria to trial public place bin baskets that make recycling on the go easy and accessible, inspired by their success in states such as Western Australia.
At Waste Expo Australia 2025, a CDS Vic-led panel showcased how three councils are piloting the bin baskets in Victoria to reduce litter, divert containers from landfill, cut waste management costs, and demonstrate visible sustainability leadership.
Why councils matter
Speaking at the panel, Marianne Doyle, Interim Chief Executive Officer of VicReturn (CDS Vic coordinator), said local government leadership combined with statewide infrastructure was the winning formula for achieving the scheme’s goals of inspiring behaviour change and collecting every eligible drink container.
“Councils are hosting refund points; they’re now running bin diversion trials for the community, and they’re an essential part of reaching those local communities,” she said.
CDS Vic’s public place bin trials began in June, with Yarra Ranges, Mornington Peninsula and Port Phillip each installing 100 diversion baskets attached to existing public litter bins. These units encourage the separation of eligible CDS Vic drink containers from general waste, providing an easy way for residents and visitors to recycle on the go.
“We find that 50 per cent of our public garbage bins are made up of CDS material which goes to landfill. The public recycling bins we have are highly contaminated, so there is a risk that that material doesn’t get recycled,” said Emily Rollis, Senior Strategy Officer Waste Futures, at City of Port Phillip.
Clean streams and cost savings
Mornington Peninsula’s Zero Waste Officer Jess Cooper said tourism adds seasonal pressure to waste services, with eight million visitors to her local government area expected over summer. She hopes the bin baskets in high-traffic foreshore areas will reduce the frequency of waste collection.
For Yarra Ranges Council, the trial offered both an environmental and operational win.
“We don’t have traditional public recycling bins because of high contamination,” explained Sarah Love, Policy and Project Officer Waste Management at Yarra Ranges Council.
“These baskets are simple, cost-effective and deliver a clean recycling stream through CDS Vic. The community loves them, and operationally they’re far cheaper than installing new recycling bins or running extra collection services.”
Love also highlighted overwhelmingly positive community feedback, both online and in person. “People are excited about something so simple making a visible difference.”
The bin baskets not only reduce waste collection costs, but also prevent damage to public bins, which can cost $2000 to $5000 each to replace.
The collaboration doesn’t stop there. Councils are working with volunteer groups such as Love Our Streets, Beach Patrol, and Sea Scouts to informally monitor the units and provide feedback on their use and contamination levels.
This community stewardship approach means the baskets only require minimal ongoing maintenance costs.
The three council sustainability experts encouraged other local government areas to implement bin baskets in their communities and shared practical advice to support the rollout:
- Choose locations carefully. Avoid areas dominated by takeaway outlets or cafes to minimise contamination from coffee cups and food waste.
- Select durable materials. Coastal councils should ensure baskets can withstand salt and moisture.
- Make them visible to drive use and participation.
- Engage your community. Partner with local groups to promote ownership and monitoring.
- Utilise social media videos and public signage to help communicate the purpose of the bins.
Looking ahead
While CDS Vic has already reduced container litter by more than half across Victoria’s beaches (according to Litter Stopper data), there’s still a long way to go. About three billion drink containers are consumed each year in Victoria, meaning about one in three is still missing from the scheme’s recovery network.
CDS Vic is expanding its funding program to support at least 12 Victorian local government areas to install eligible container diversion units in public places to engage more communities in a cleaner, circular future. Participating councils can receive up to $8000 (ex GST) towards their bin basket trial.
Expressions of Interest are open until 20 November 2025. Email info@vicreturn.com.au
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