Sustainability

Container Deposit Scheme in Victoria

Victoria’s container deposit scheme, CDS Vic, is set to start in November 2023. The scheme will reward Victorians with a 10-cent refund for every eligible can, carton and bottle they return.

CDS Vic will provide shared benefits to the community, environment and economy by delivering:

• more and better recycling
• less waste - old containers become new ones
• less litter - cut by up to half
• hundreds of new jobs and economic opportunities across Victoria
• a cleaner, greener state.

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.

Eligible containers include:

• Non-concentrated fruit or vegetable juice
• Flavoured milk
• Beer
• Soft drink
• Mixed spirits

For further information, click here