Recycle cans, get cash

By Lachlan Ellis

A new recycling bill is set to pass through the Victorian Parliament, providing 10 cent refunds for cans, bottles, and cartons.

At the time of writing, the ‘Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Bill’ has passed through the lower house but, has not yet been debated or voted on by the upper house.

Under the bill, the container deposit scheme (CDS) will come into effect by 2023, funded by beverage supplies and overseen by a new authority, Recycling Victoria.

While the scheme is set to reduce waste and increase the amount of resources recovered by recycling, it’s not all positive.

Existing refund schemes run by volunteer groups, such as the Bacchus Marsh Lions Club, may lose revenue from the CDS.

The Bacchus Marsh Lions Club runs the ‘Cash n Can’ program, receiving crushed cans from the community monthly, at the Village Green for 75 cents a kilogram.

Russ Hendry is President of the Bacchus Marsh Lions Club, and said while the Cash n Can Program would likely lose some income, it wasn’t all doom and gloom.

“We get probably half of our cans from donations from the Bowling Club, CFA, those kinds of organisations…they’re not fussed about collecting, they know the Lions Club will use the money wisely, so they give them to us,” Mr Hendry told the Moorabool News.

“We mightn’t get as many cans [once the CDS comes into effect], unless we can get on the bandwagon…but it’s really not that significant in our fundraising, we’d find some other income source. But Cash n Can does help when we do the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal and that sort of thing.”

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2021-11-23/13

in the 23 November 2021 edition
OR
pick up a paper around your town.