Half a billion containers recycled

THE number of containers recycled under Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme has passed half a billion this month, less than six months into the program.

An average of 138 containers are recycled in each transaction at a CDS Vic refund points, with CDS Vic processing around 17 million cans, cartons, and bottles across the state each week.

Last week the scheme passed the 500 million mark, meaning millions of dollars returned to the community, and more recycled materials available for roads, furniture, construction, textiles, and more.

Jim Round is the CEO of VicReturn, which oversees CDS Vic, and said the program had been a huge success so far across Victoria, and in Moorabool specifically.

“Residents of Moorabool have welcomed our new Container Deposit Scheme with incredible enthusiasm,” Mr Round said.

“Since the scheme began in November 2023, return points at Bacchus Marsh Foodworks have received more than 2.6 million returns and Mitre 10 Bacchus Marsh received 756,422.

“Statewide 533,158,805 million containers have been returned – that’s more than $53 million directly back in the pockets of Victorians.”

More than $260,000 from the scheme has also been donated to the scheme’s 3,000 participating charity partners.

Once fully rolled out in August, the Container Deposit Scheme is planned to offer around 600 refund points for Victorians to return eligible drink containers to.

For more information visit cdsvic.org.au.