Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic), coordinated by VicReturn, has marked two significant milestones: its first anniversary and the return of its billionth container.
On LinkedIn, Freya Marsden, chair of the Victorian Government Sustainability Fund, expressed pride in the community’s engagement, noting, "On my calculations that means that every woman, man and child has returned on average close to 150 eligible containers each over the last year."
Marsden thanked Minister Steve Dimopoulos, Jim Round, and the VicReturn team for their contributions, adding, "This is outstanding work by Victorians which has significantly improved the environment and their communities."
Jim Round, CEO at VicReturn, also shared his reflections on the achievement. "Over the past year, Victorians have fully embraced the scheme, collectively returning more than one billion containers," Round said. "This incredible result means so much waste saved from landfill and more than $100 million going into the pockets of Victorians." He thanked partners like Visy, Return-It, TOMRA Cleanaway, and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, highlighting their role in establishing and managing 647 refund points across the state.
Looking forward, both Marsden and Round expressed optimism for the scheme’s future. "I am looking forward to Year Two being another big year for the scheme with great outcomes for Victorians," Marsden commented. Round added, "We are in an extremely good place one year in, and we are expecting a big summer. Don’t throw your money away – save your cash and return your containers!"
The CDS aligns with VicReturn’s mission to position Victoria as a leader in beverage container recycling, reducing litter and landfill, while adding value to the environment and local communities.
