Deposit refunds a waste game

MORNINGTON Peninsula Waste Wise says the container deposit scheme to be introduced in November will be a game-changer in terms of reducing recyclable waste on the peninsula.

Victoria’s container deposit scheme, CDS Vic, is expected to reduce the amount of recyclable litter that ends up on the streets and beaches.

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

The scheme also provides charities, community groups, environmental organisations, sports groups and educational organisations with ways to raise money.

Co-founder of Mornington Peninsula Waste Wise and national Boomerang Alliance spokesperson, Birte Moliere, said data from other states and overseas shows that container deposit schemes (also known as Cash for Cans) can work. She said they “slash litter rates and keep highly valuable materials out of landfill”.

“The Boomerang Alliance has been advocating for such a scheme to launch in Victoria for many years and we are thrilled to finally see this being rolled out. It is well overdue. The key will be to make our collection points highly accessible to our local community,” she said.

“Alongside our community, we have a vision for a litter-free Australia. Our container deposit scheme will play a massive role in turning the tide on litter and plastic pollution.

“Important benefits of the scheme also include green jobs and opportunities for community based fundraising.

“Whether you are a local club, business, community group, school or individual – I encourage everyone to get behind it. Let’s get these resources off our beaches, out of our waterways and divert them from landfill.”

Peninsula businesses are being invited to be part of the container deposit scheme that aims to reduce litter and increase recycling.

Return-It, part of the Re.Group business, is one of the scheme’s three network operators and is inviting interested parties to either host a reverse vending machine in their car park (about four parking bays) or install a small format refund point in the form of a small reverse vending machine or over the counter solution.

As a network operator, Return-It is wanting to establish more than 190 container refund points across 18 municipalities, including Frankston and the peninsula.

There will be 600 refund points across the state.

Customers can choose to receive a 10-cent refund for every eligible container or donate to a participating charity, community, environmental, educational or sports group.

Deposits will be available for plastic soft drink bottles, glass beer bottles, canned soft drinks and alcohol and small fruit juice cartons.

Drinks exempt from the scheme include milk other than flavoured milk; cordial; concentrated fruit or vegetable juice (or a mixture of both concentrated fruit and vegetable juices) intended to be diluted before consumption; and registered health tonics.

In 2019, Victorian beach patrol groups collected 21,014 kilograms of litter and 39,839 drink containers.

WWF estimates that it takes 450 years for a plastic bottle to break down if not recycled.

For a list of eligible drink containers go to legislation.vic.gov.au and search for container-deposit-scheme

For more information about being a partner in the Return-It scheme, contact Jess Rice at [email protected]

First published in the Mornington News – 15 August 2023