The planet called – it wants your cans backEasy everyday wins to keep Bellarine beautiful: starting with your bottles, cans and cartons

THE Bellarine is worth caring for, and Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) and West Zone operator TOMRA Cleanaway are calling on locals to show their pride and make a difference for our environment.

You don’t need to be a park ranger or environmental scientist to make a difference. One of the simplest ways you can help protect your streets, parks, and waterways is already in your hands: your empty drink containers.

Over the holiday period, Bellarine region residents and visitors returned more than 1,202,809 eligible containers through the CDS Vic network delivering more than $120,280 in refunds back to locals and supporting the scheme’s charity partners through donations.

It’s a fantastic effort CDS Vic and TOMRA Cleanaway encourages the community to keep it up.

Recycle. Donate. Repeat.

L-R: One of the simplest ways you can help protect your streets, parks, and waterways is already in your hands: your empty drink containers. You can donate your 10c refund to local legends, like Cottage by the Sea, doing good work across the region.

With nearly 200 convenient return points across the CDS Vic West Zone, including reverse vending machines (RVMs), depots and over-the-counter locations, returning your bottles and cans through the CDS Vic West

Zone is a simple habit that can become part of your daily routine.

You can donate your 10c refund to local legends doing good work across the region. Just download the CDS Vic West app, choose a charity that speaks to you, and your empties can help charities like:

Cottage by the Sea to support vulnerable children

Disabled Surfers Association Ocean Grove to purchase equipment, and

Lions Club of Ocean Grove & Barwon Heads to upgrade its catering equipment

“Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme doesn’t just help reduce waste, it lets you create real local change with every container,” TOMRA Cleanaway chief executive James Dorney said. “One small act can ripple outwards. Recycling is a little thing that adds up to a big difference.”