THE much-anticipated container deposit scheme (CDS) is now set to start in 2023.
It will encourage and aim to maximise the return of used drink cans, bottles and cartons for recycling, and reduce Victoria’s litter by up to half.
People will be able to return cans, bottles and cartons at various locations including shopping centres, drive through collection depots, mobile drop off points for events and community festivals.
Charity, community, and sports groups will also have the option of operating container collection points to raise extra funds.
Ross Musolino, convenor of Transition Towns Tatura, is very supportive of the Scheme.
“With the known benefit of reducing litter and thus diminishing threats to the environment, recycling beverage containers can only be a win-win for our communities,” he said.
“Offering people ten cents a bottle will reduce littering as it has in many other parts of the world. Hopefully, this will then have a positive influence on other forms of recycling as people start to think a little more about things.”
“Coming from South Australia, returning my drink bottles for money was second nature as a kid and a welcome way to then buy a bag of lollies with the earnings; five cents could buy a lot of lollies back then! Seriously though, a CDS also allows recovery of a vast number of resources and can lead to a circular economy,” said Ross.
The government will continue to work closely with the beverage and recycling industries and the community and charity sector as the legislation is developed to make sure that everyone can participate fairly and benefit from the scheme.
