Shire receives second CDS refund point

TOMRA Cleanaway has installed a new reverse vending machine in Bannockburn to expand the reach of the Victorian container deposit scheme in the Golden Plains Shire’s south.

Located at Octane Fuels petrol station, the machine is the second bottle, can, and carton refund point to be opened in the region and joins a network of 155 points across the West Zone of the CDS.

Reverse vending machines automatically scan containers as they’re deposited, with users recieving 10 cents back per bottle or can. This refund can be received as a grocery voucher, digital bank transfer, or users can donate the cash to community groups, not-for-profits, or schools.

TOMRA Cleanaway chief executive officer James Dorney said the machines were fast and convenient.

“As Network Operator for the CDS Vic West Zone, we are driven to provide a convenient and accessible network of refund points,” Mr Dorney said.

“The community has shown that when provided with a convenient, accessible, and technology-based container deposit scheme network, they will get involved.”

Since the CDS began in November last year, TOMRA Cleanaway has collected more than 140 million containers resulting in refunds to Victorians of up to $14.3 million.”

“All containers returned through the TOMRA Cleanaway refund point network pass through technology for audit and verification purposes, which achieves clean, source-separated commodities that support Victoria’s transition to a circular economy,” said Mr Dorney.

Eligible containers can be recycled not only via reverse vending machines, but at depots or over-the-counter refund points, and a map of locations can be found on the CDS Vic website.When the scheme launched last year, only one reverse vending machine was set up in Golden Plains at the Teesdale General Store, with the next closest points outside the area in Geelong, Buninyong and Wendouree.

Due to the large size of the shire, this one-refund point move was criticised. Some local residents also complained that the Teesdale machine was causing accessibility, traffic and safety issues both in the carpark of the general store and on Bannockburn-Shelford Road.The statewide roll-out of the CDS is due to be completed by August this year, by which time TOMRA Cleanaway will have 180 refund points operating in the West Zone.

Victoria Minister for Environment Steve Dimopolous said the CDS was aimed at reducing waste and boosting sustainability.

“Victoria’s container deposit scheme will be the most accessible and convenient in the country, making it easier than ever to recycle here in the Golden Plains Shire and across our 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.”