General News
11 November, 2024
Billions of cans are trashed for cash
LODDON communities have played their part in putting one billion containers into recycling bills over the past year. The first anniversary of Victoria’s container deposit scheme came as it was revealed four Loddon collection points had received...
LODDON communities have played their part in putting one billion containers into recycling bills over the past year.
The first anniversary of Victoria’s container deposit scheme came as it was revealed four Loddon collection points had received 850,590 containers.
Almost 60 per cent of returns in Boort, Inglewood, Wedderburn and Pyramid Hill have been cans with cartons making up two per cent, glass 17 per cent and plastic 23 per cent.
The scheme’s north zone operator Visy said one billion containers had been returned through the scheme “reducing litter and putting money back into Victorians’ pockets”.
“The scheme not only benefits the environment but has injected nearly $100 million back into the community, including over $918,000 to charities and community groups through donation partners.”
Visy has 245 refund points across the Loddon, Mallee, and Hume regions and the inner north and eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
These return points include reverse vending machines, which offer self-service automated returns, over-the-counter refund points operated by local businesses and community organisations, and depots, capable of processing larger quantities of containers. General manager of the scheme for Visy Tim O’Donnell said: “The success of the scheme proves people care about the environment and love recycling. We’re honoured to have worked with local communities and partners to play our part in making CDS VIC the most accessible scheme in Australia.”
Victorians are recycling an average of 145 containers in each return, with more than 26 million containers deposited the week after the AFL Grand Final – the biggest week in the scheme’s first year.
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said: “Victorians have gone gangbusters for our Container Deposit Scheme – saving one billion containers from landfill, putting $100 million back in their pockets and making it the number one scheme in the country.”