Victorians in every corner of the state are embracing the Allan Labor Government’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) in record numbers – having returned more than 500 million cans and bottles to be recycled.

Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos today visited the CDS Vic Depot in Melton – the second-highest performing site in Victoria to announce Victorians have put an impressive $50 million back into their pockets while donating thousands to participating charities or community groups.

The Melton depot which has handled 14.7 million cans, glass, and PET plastics in just over six months is operated by KARI in partnership with Clean Vibes, a sustainable event waste management company.

KARI is a not-for-profit organisation that supports Aboriginal families and youth. They also manage a second refund point in Coburg North and employ 17 people from mostly First Nations backgrounds across both sites.

Victorians continue to step up to the challenge in record numbers, returning an average of 138 containers per transaction with CDS Vic processing around 17 million cans, cartons and bottles statewide every week.

Williamstown is leading the state with over 18.6 million containers returned while Hallam is Melbourne’s third best performing site with residents having returned 10.9 million containers.

Mildura maintains its position as the top-performing refund point in regional Victoria, having returned an astounding 11.7 million containers, followed closely behind by Shepparton with more than 9.7 million containers collected.

Containers collected through CDS Vic can be transformed into all kinds of new things, including material for roads, furniture, construction, textiles and more – creating new economic opportunities that will support more than 600 jobs across Victoria.

Thanks to the generosity of Victorians, more than $260,000 has already been donated to the scheme’s 3000 participating charity partners – including Citizen Blue in Williamstown, Scouts Victoria in Glen Waverley and Envirobank in Kangaroo Flat and East Bendigo.

The Labor Government has invested a record $515 million to transform the Victoria’s waste and recycling system, driving progress towards the target of diverting 80 per cent of all waste away from landfill by 2030.

Once fully rolled out in August, Victorians will be able to return eligible drink containers to around 600 refund points across the state. To find your nearest refund point and for more information, visit cdsvic.org.au.

Top 10 refund points in metropolitan Melbourne:

1. Williamstown Depot operated by Citizen Blue (18.3 million)

2. Melton Depot operated by KARI (14.7 million)

3. Hallam Depot operated by Return-it (10.9 million)

4. Pakenham Depot operated by Return-it (7.7 million)

5. Carrum Downs Depot operated by Nu Container Recycling (6.7 million)

6. Braeside Depot operated by Nu Container Recycling (6.1 million)

7. Keysborough Depot operated by Return-it (5.9 million)

8. Oakleigh Depot operated by Return-it (5.5 million)

9. Glen Waverley Depot operated by Scouts Victoria (4.5 million)

10. Frankston Depot operated by Return-it (4.5 million)

Top refund points in regional Victoria:

1. Mildura Depot operated by Exchange Depot (11.7 million)

2. Shepparton Depot operated by FOOTT (9.7 million)

3. Kangaroo Flat Depot operated by Envirobank (7.1 million)

4. East Bendigo Depot operated by Envirobank (6.6 million)

5. Ballarat South Depot operated by McCallum (5.8 million)

6. Wangaratta Depot operated by Exchange Depot (5.5 million)

7. Morwell Depot operated by Latrobe Valley Enterprises (5.5 million)

8. Lucknow Depot operated by Tambo Recycling Centre (4.9 million)

9. Wodonga Depot operated by Exchange Depot (4.7 million)

10. Sale Depot operated by Tambo Recycling Centre (4.6 million)