One year into Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS), a new report from the Total Environment Centre (TEC) has raised concerns over transparency, performance variation between operators, and missed opportunities to improve consumer access and scheme outcomes.
The report, released last week, urges the Victorian Government to address critical issues including the lack of public data on zone-based return rates, the exclusion of wine and spirit bottles from the scheme, and limited accessibility of over-the-counter refund points.
Disparity in returns and limited transparency
The CDS operates under a three-zone system managed by separate companies. Between November 2023 and June 2024 – the only period for which data was inadvertently made available to TEC – the Tomra/Cleanaway zone significantly outperformed the other two. However, the government has since declined a Freedom of Information request to release further data, stating that zone-specific return rates will now remain confidential.
TEC director Jeff Angel argues that this lack of transparency makes it impossible to assess how effectively the scheme is serving the public. He notes that although the zones have similar populations, Tomra/Cleanaway’s area has a smaller urban footprint but a higher concentration of reverse vending machines (RVMs), which are available at more times and less dependent on staffing.
“Reverse vending machines generate the highest returns as they are accessible at most times, every day,” Angel said. “One zone operator was able to install automated return points faster than the others, which could explain the higher recovery rate. But only if the government releases the data can we truly know what’s working.”
Angel also pointed out issues with over-the-counter refund points in retail outlets, which often have restricted opening hours and may refuse containers when staff are busy serving customers.
Key recommendations for scheme reform
The TEC’s 12-Month Review makes four key recommendations aimed at improving scheme outcomes and restoring public confidence:
- Conduct an independent and public review of the three-operator system by 2026.
- Increase the container refund from 10 cents to 20 cents, and expand coverage to include glass wine and spirit bottles.
- Improve annual reporting practices to ensure transparency in the 2024–25 Annual Assessment and statutory reports.
- Implement outstanding actions from the earlier Six-Monthly Review and introduce a formal performance target.
“The public is paying for this system and deserves to know how it is performing,” said Angel. “Improved transparency and a more accessible network are essential if the Victorian scheme is to deliver on its environmental and community goals.”
The TEC says it will continue advocating for greater accountability and efficiency in the CDS, as it plays a critical role in reducing litter, boosting recycling, and building a circular packaging economy.
