The Allan Labor Government has today launched Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme – CDS Vic, which will reduce the state’s litter by up to half while putting money back in the pockets of Victorians.

Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos today opened the scheme, where people can now return their eligible drink cans, bottles and cartons for a 10-cent refund at refund points across Victoria.

The scheme will generate more than 600 jobs statewide and turn used drink containers into new, recycled products.

Reverse vending machines, depots, over-the-counter sites, and pop-up refund points will be the four ways people can return their eligible containers – and depending on the type of refund point, people can choose whether they want to receive the refund in the form of cash, a retail voucher, or an electronic refund.

Victorians can also choose to donate their refund to a charity or community organisation registered with the scheme.

The network of refund points to recycle containers will continue to grow in 2024 – making the scheme even more accessible to Victorians.

VicReturn is the Scheme Coordinator, while Zone Operators Return-It, TOMRA Cleanaway, and Visy will establish and oversee the refund points and refunds to customers, as well as ensuring proper recycling of the containers.

The operators are each responsible for the refund point network in their allocated scheme zones: north, east and west.

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.

CDS Vic is part of the Labor Government’s $515 million investment to transform the state’s waste and recycling system. This includes the new standardised four-stream waste and recycling system, supporting our target of diverting 80 per cent of all material away from landfill by 2030.

To learn more about CDS Vic and to find the nearest refund point closest to you, visit cdsvic.org.au.