Cash for containers starts this Wednesday

VICTORIA’S container deposit scheme, ‘CDS Vic’, is set to kick off on Wednesday, November 1 and both Bass Coast and South Gippsland will be fully participating in the can and bottle return program from day one.

The scheme will reward Victorians with a 10-cent refund for every eligible can, carton and bottle they return.

But just as importantly, those cans and bottles will go into the recycle system and be saved from landfill and also stopped from fouling up the environment.

For South Gippsland and Bass Coast residents, you will be able to get a refund for your eligible containers at two collection points operated by local firm ‘Can Collect’, at sites located in Wonthaggi and on Phillip Island.

The collection points will be open seven days-a-week to help local residents, community and sporting groups, and businesses to benefit from the scheme.

The collection points are located at:

• Wonthaggi, 36 Inverloch Road, Wonthaggi

• Phillip Island, 14 Harvey Drive, Cowes

Can Collect collection point opening hours are Monday-Friday 8.30am-4.30pm, and Saturday-Sunday 9am-3pm.

Local operator, Will Hams and the Can Collect team are up and going now, awaiting the Wednesday, November 1 start.

“As Can Collect, our role is community engagement, not only are we encouraging individuals to come down with their cans, bottles and cartons for recycling, but we’ll also be getting in touch with the sporting clubs, community groups, men’s sheds, businesses and people running events to assist them with their fundraising efforts,” said Will this week.

“As an operating partner, we are the main collection point for Bass Coast and South Gippsland where you can come in and exchange your cans and bottles for cash.

“We can also assist those organising events or bulk collection with the big pink plastic bags and blue bins for the occasion.

“What we’re saying is it’s better to get paid for the recyclables than to pay to take it to the tip.”

A local group, including Will Hams, Lukas Webb and Brad Olsson, have set up Can Collect, with depots in Wonthaggi and Cowes, as part of the scheme and they’re encouraging the community to embrace the idea, not just to turn waste into cash, but also doing something for the environment.

The funds generated by individuals can also be directed to charity.

How it will work

You purchase a drink.

You return your empty drink container to a refund point. With 600 refund points planned across Victoria, you can choose a location that is convenient for you.

You receive a 10-cent refund for every eligible container you return. You can choose to keep the funds or donate to a participating charity, community group, environmental group, educational organisation or sports group.

Your returned container is given a new lease on life. The material is recycled and remanufactured into a new product, saving it from landfill or littering the environment.

Containers eligible for refund

CDS Vic will target beverage containers that most commonly contribute to litter and are often consumed away from home. This includes plastic soft drink bottles, glass beer bottles, soft drinks and alcohol sold in cans, and small fruit juice cartons.

A complete list of eligible containers can be found in the Container Deposit Scheme Regulations.
 

Eligible containers include:
• Non-concentrated fruit or vegetable juice
• Flavoured milk
• Beer
• Soft drink
• Mixed spirits
 

Exempt containers include:
• Glass wine bottles
• Glass spirit bottles
• Juice bottles 1 litre and over
• Cordial bottles
• Milk (other than flavoured milk)
• Concentrated fruit or vegetable juice
• Health tonics