Container Deposit Schemes encourage people to collect their containers, rather than disposing in general waste, leading to more and better recycling and reducing litter in our parks, gardens and waterways.
The scheme proposed by the Victorian Government will involve a 10 cent refund per container, encouraging the collection and return of empty containers to a network of refund points.
Container deposit schemes are great for communities, providing grassroots organisations, local sports clubs, schools and households an opportunity to fundraise or earn some extra cash.
Separating our recycling streams gives more control to recyclers and creates high-quality recycled content - providing a clean waste stream where the containers recovered are sorted efficiently.
The materials such as glass, plastic and aluminium that are collected are highly recyclable and are turned into high-grade recycled products with a strong market value – encouraging a circular economy that extends the life of these materials and reduces our reliance on natural resources.
The scheme has many benefits including reduced costs for local councils by reducing litter clean-up costs.
The City of Greater Geelong welcomes the scheme and has been involved during the consultation phase with State Government. The scheme is due to start in 2023.
