The Victorian Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) is breaking records every week, with more than 100 million containers, and $10 million in refunds in just two months.
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos marked the milestone on 11 January at the new Return-It depot at South Melbourne – one of about 400 refund points across the state.
“It’s remarkable to see so many Victorians get involved in recycling, providing 100 million containers and counting for re-use in new products instead of going to landfill or ending up in the environment and harming our wildlife,” Dimopoulos said.
The 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 the first week of January 2024. The biggest day to date was Friday 5 January with 3.18 million containers returned.
The CDS is processing an average of about 10 million cans, cartons and bottles across the state every week, with Victorians returning an average of 129 containers per transaction.
Regional Victorians are stepping up to the challenge in impressive numbers, with Mildura leading the state in container returns, having deposited more than 4.1 million containers.
Shepparton rivals this turnout with more than 2.6 million containers collected, followed by Kangaroo Flat (more than 2.1 million) and Ballarat South (2 million). Melton has been Melbourne’s best-performing refund point, having returned 3.9 million cans, glass and PET plastics, followed by the Hallam depot with more than 2.6 million.
Of all the containers returned since the scheme commenced, aluminium cans have been the most popular making up 53 per cent of returns, followed by PET (26 per cent) and glass (18 per cent).
Container returns continue to increase, and Victoria’s network of refund points will continue to grow to meet demand.
Victorians can choose to pocket the refund or donate their containers to one of the 1600 participating charities, sports, community, environmental or educational groups.
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.
Top 10 metro refund points:
- CDS Vic Depot Melton (3.9 million)
- Return-It Hallam (2.6 million)
- Return-It Pakenham (1.8 million)
- CDS Vic Depot Williamstown (1.8 million)
- Nu Container Recycling Carrum Downs (1.6 million)
- Nu Container Recycling Braeside (1.6 million)
- Scouts Glen Waverley (1.4 million)
- Roxburgh Village (1.2 million)
- Craigieburn Central (1.2 million)
- Return-It Oakleigh (1.2 million)
Top 10 regional refund points:
- Exchange Depot Mildura (4.1 million)
- FOOTT Shepparton (2.6 million)
- Envirobank Kangaroo Flat (2.1 million)
- CDS Vic Depot Ballarat South (2 million)
- CDS Vic Depot Horsham (1.7 million)
- Envirobank East Bendigo (1.7 million)
- Exchange Depot Wangaratta (1.6 million)
- La Trobe Valley Enterprises Morwell (1.5 million)
- Tambo Recycling Centre Sale (1.4 million)
- Exchange Depot Wodonga (1.4 million)
For more information, visit: cdsvic.org.au
Related stories:
Visy, TOMRA Cleanaway, Return-It to operate VIC CDS
CDS Vic site records 9500 plus returns in one week
