Despite last-minute concerns around funding, the state’s new recycling program kicked off this week, giving residents across Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast the chance to cash in their cans and bottles.
Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) launched on Wednesday, November 1, with 21 locations across the region providing 10 cents per item for eligible containers.
Most of the refund points are reverse vending machines, which scan and verify containers as they are deposited and provide retail cash vouchers, direct funds transfers to bank accounts or donations to a nominated charity or community group.
In addition to the vending machines, five over the counter refund points are located in Belmont, East Geelong, Moolap and Portarlington, with a further two automated depots as Bell Park and Breakwater.
TOMRA Cleanaway, a partnership between global collection and sorting provider TOMRA and Australian waste and resource recovery company Cleanaway, will provide the service delivery in the western third of the state.
TOMRA Cleanaway chief executive James Dorney said his organisation was excited to launch the program in western Victoria.
“Our machines are quick, convenient, accurate and automated, and are able to be seamlessly integrated into retail and community locations,” Mr Dorney said.
“In addition to the 128 container refund points across western Melbourne and western regional Victoria that go live on 1 November, we will continue to add more refund points in the West Zone for many months to come. So the scheme will continue to get more and more convenient and rewarding.”
Victorian Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said Victoria’s CDS will be the most accessible and convenient in the country, making it easier than ever to recycle in the Geelong region and across the state.
“CDS Vic will maximise the number of cans, bottles and cartons being recycled into new products, while reducing the amount of litter in Victoria by up to half,” he said.
Visit cdsvic.org.au/locations for a full list of locations.
