Victorians missing out on container cash

VICTORIANS are throwing away thousands of dollars in potential refunds every day, with many eligible drink containers still ending up in household rubbish bins instead of being returned through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic).

New research shows one in five Victorians are missing out on refunds because eligible containers such as flavoured milk bottles and juice boxes are often overlooked and discarded.

Since CDS Vic launched in November 2023, almost 3 billion drink containers have been returned, putting nearly $300 million back into Victorians’ pockets.

With millions of eligible containers still being thrown away, there is a significant opportunity for Victorians to claim even more.

Flavoured milk cartons and bottles are among the biggest offenders. Despite being eligible for a 10-cent refund through CDS Vic, almost half (49 per cent) of Victorians put these in their household recycling bin. Another 10 per cent say they throw them in the landfill bin.

Juice boxes and poppers are also frequently misplaced. About 40 per cent of Victorians put them in household recycling and 14 per cent in landfill, despite these items also being eligible for a refund through CDS Vic.

At the same time, almost one in five Victorians (18 per cent) attempted to return containers through the scheme that are ineligible.

Matt Davis, CEO of scheme coordinator VicReturn, said confusion about eligibility remains one of the biggest barriers to recycling through the scheme.

“Many everyday drink containers, including flavoured milk bottles and juice boxes, can be returned for a 10-cent refund, but they’re still often ending up in household bins instead.”

He encouraged Victorians to check container labels for the 10-cent mark and remember that most aluminium cans, plastic bottles and small beverage cartons are eligible for refunds through CDS Vic.

“Every container returned through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme helps reduce litter and keep valuable materials in the recycling loop and remade into new drink containers,” he said.

What is eligible through CDS Vic:

Aluminium, glass, plastic and carton drink containers 150ml to 3 litres

Fruit and vegetable juice bottles, cans and cartons 150ml to 1-litre

Flavoured milk and coffee bottles and cartons 150ml to 750ml, and

Water, soft drink, sports drink, energy drink, beer and cider bottles and cans 150ml to 1-litre.

Keep the lids on as these can also be recycled.

Ineligible containers are plain milk bottles and cartons, flavoured milk, fruit or vegetable juice containers over 1 litre, wine and spirit bottles, cordial bottles, drink containers under 150ml and crushed containers.

For more information about what can be returned through the scheme, head to cdsvic.org.au/eligible-containers

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