Victorians wanting to take advantage of the state’s new container deposit scheme can now search online for their nearest refund collection point.
The government’s container deposit scheme website has been updated with an interactive map listing hundreds of locations where residents can get their refund.
The scheme, which offers 10 cents per container, will come into effect on Wednesday, and will eventually include more than 600 refund points by August 2024.
“We always said ahead of the scheme kicking off on the 1st of November that we would make the first tranche of sites available and that is now available through the website,” Premier Jacinta Allan told reporters on Friday.
Refund points are split into three different categories – reverse vending machines, depots and over-the-counter locations.
Three operators have been chosen for the scheme across the state, with Visy looking after the north zone, TOMRA Cleanaway the west zone and Return-It the east zone.
The government said most glass, liquid paperboard (carton), plastic and aluminium drink containers can be returned, with residents needing to look for the 10 cent refund label.
Items that cannot be returned include plain milk containers, cordial or syrup containers, wine or pure spirits bottles made of glass, large beverage pouches, cartons under 150mL and containers above one litre that contained juice and flavoured milk.
Residents have four options when it comes to refunds – they can collect a voucher to spend at participating stores, they can receive cash, opt to donate their refund to a charity or community organisation, or receive an electronic payment through an app.
The scheme has been more than three years in the making, having first been announced by the Victorian government in early 2020.
“The whole purpose of the scheme… is to make sure that we are driving down the rates of litter (and) increasing the rate of materials that go into our recycling system,” Ms Allan said.
“And there’s that added benefit of putting money into people’s pockets.”
Every other Australian jurisdiction except Tasmania has already implemented its own container deposit scheme.
The Victorian premier is promising the cash for containers scheme will launch next week as planned, despite concerns the rollout has been rushed.
The state government has confirmed the long-awaited scheme will be operational from November 1, after concern relevant legislation to fund the program would not be passed before that deadline.
Under the scheme, Victorians will be able to redeem their cans and bottles for 10 cents at one of the 200 collection points around the state.
People will be able to receive refunds in the form of vouchers, cash or straight into their bank accounts, depending on the location.
They will also be able to donate the refund to charity.
“It means money in our pocket, an increase in recycling rates, and also importantly too a reduction in litter,” Premier Jacinta Allan said.
“It’s also about making sure it is as easy as it possibly can be.”
Bentleigh East 10-year-old Ashton Hanson has been collecting containers since May and has already collected 4700 cans.
“I feel excited,” he told 9News.
”Most of the ones we’ve got is walking around the local area every week.
“We’re going to buy an air hockey table.”
But the rollout of the scheme has also faced criticism from the opposition who claim the Victorian government has left everything to the last minute.
“Every week there’s a new example of mismanagement of major projects and initiatives,” he said.
The locations of refund points can be found at cdsvic.org.au.
(9 News / Sky News)
