You can now exchange eligible drink containers for 10 cents.
Victoria’s environmental landscape just got a major upgrade as the much-anticipated Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, affectionately known as CDS Vic, finally opens.
This groundbreaking initiative promises to tackle the state’s litter issue head-on while offering a cash boost to the pockets of Victorians. The scheme officially kick-started today, providing people across the state with the opportunity to return eligible drink containers and earn a 10-cent refund at multiple collection points.
Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme
- Step 1 – Collect eligible drink containers (Check for the 10c mark)
- Step 2 – Find your refund point (Search interactive map)
- Step 3 – Earn or donate your refund
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
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CDS Vic isn’t just a win for the environment; it’s a jobs generator, with more than 600 positions set to sprout up throughout the state. But it’s not just about clearing litter; this innovative scheme turns used drink containers into shiny new, recycled products, contributing to a greener future.
Now, you’re probably wondering how you can cash in on this fantastic scheme. Fear not, as there are a few easy ways to return your eligible containers:
Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs): These nifty contraptions allow you to insert your eligible containers, where they’re scanned and verified. Lids are encouraged, too.
Depots: For those with large loads, depots provide walk-in or drive-through services for quick container counting and refunds on the spot.
Over-the-Counter (OTC): In some areas, small businesses or organisations provide an over-the-counter service, effectively operating like a mini depot.
There will also be pop-up refund points. Depending on your preference and the type of refund point, you can receive your well-earned refund in the form of cash, a retail voucher, or an electronic refund.
But the goodness doesn’t stop there. If you’re feeling generous, you can choose to donate your refund to a charity or community organisation that’s registered with the scheme. Giving back never felt so easy.
Where to find refund points in Geelong region
Pakington Strand
95-103 Pakington Street, Geelong, VIC 3218
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
The Geelong Try Boys’ Brigade Inc
501 Ryrie Street, East Geelong, VIC 3220
Pop-up • Over the Counter (OTC)
City of Geelong Bowls Club
7 – 9 Ballarat Road, Geelong North, VIC 3215
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
Coles High Street
158-162a High Street, Belmont, VIC 3216
Pop-up • Over the Counter (OTC)
Geelong United Basketball Group
20 Crows Road, Belmont, VIC 3216
Pop-up • Over the Counter (OTC)
Newcomb Central Shopping Centre
71 Bellarine Highway, Newcomb, VIC 3219
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
CDS Vic Depot Breakwater operated by Brotherhood of St. Laurence
6 Haworth Street, Breakwater, VIC 3219
Depot
Barrabool Hills Plaza
36 Province Boulevard, Highton, VIC 3216
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
CDS Vic Depot Bell Park operated by Recycle 4 Change
116-122 Furner Avenue, Bell Park, VIC 3215
Depot
Leisurelink Aquatic and Sports Reserve
240 Pioneer Road, Waurn Ponds, VIC 3216
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
Norlane Community House
39A Rose Avenue, Norlane, VIC 3214
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
Leisuretime Sports Precinct
262-282 Anakie Road, Norlane, VIC 3214
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
Corio Fruit Market
110 Cox Road, Corio, VIC 3214
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
Corio Village
83A Purnell Road, Corio, VIC 3214
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
Gateway Plaza Leopold
659 Bellarine Highway, Leopold , VIC 3224
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
Lara Sporting Club
48 Waverley Road, Lara, VIC 3212
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
Torquay Commercial Estate
15 Beacon Boulevard, Torquay, VIC 3228
Pop-up • Over the Counter (OTC)
Kingston Village Square
122-160 Grubb Road, Ocean Grove, VIC 3226
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
Bells Beach Brewery
Shed 2, 22 Baines Crescent, Torquay, VIC 3228
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
Epichealth Medical Clinic Portarlington
39-41 Fenwick Street, Portarlington, VIC 3223
Pop-up • Over the Counter (OTC)
Teesdale General Store & Post Office
1071 Bannockburn-Shelford Road, Teesdale, VIC 3328
Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)
For those of us who are all about convenience, an interactive map will help you locate the nearest reverse vending machine, depot, or over-the-counter refund point. Keep an eye out, as the network of refund points is set to expand in 2024, making it even more accessible for all Victorians to get involved.
The brains behind CDS Vic is the Scheme Coordinator, VicReturn, while Zone Operators Return-It, TOMRA Cleanaway, and Visy will establish and oversee the refund points and refunds, ensuring proper recycling of the containers. Each operator is responsible for the refund point network in their designated scheme zones: north, east, and west.
To guarantee accessibility for all Victorians, within nine months of the scheme’s launch, Zone Operators will be required to set up a minimum of one collection point per 14,500 people in metropolitan areas, at least one per town of 750 people in regional areas, and at least one per town of 350 people in remote areas.
CDS Vic is a crucial component of the Labor Government’s $515 million investment to revolutionise the state’s waste and recycling system. This comprehensive approach includes the introduction of a new standardised four-stream waste and recycling system, with the ultimate goal of diverting a whopping 80 percent of all materials away from landfill by 2030.
To learn more about CDS Vic and discover the nearest refund point closest to you, head over to cdsvic.org.au. It’s time to make a change, Victoria!
