In the year since the launch of Victoria’s container deposit scheme (CDS) – facilitated by VicReturn – community groups have eagerly risen to the waste management challenge and raised more than $950,000 for grassroots activities, in addition to creating 590 employment opportunities.
The CDS – which invites Victorians to return drink containers for a 10 cent refund at over 640 return points across the state – has spared one billion containers from the destiny of landfill. With a circular economy as an end goal, CDS sees returned containers enter a recycling process and transform into new items to minimise waste buildup.
Complimentary recycling and reuse programs have proved hugely successful nationwide, with Finish and TerraCyle offering a free recycling program that allowed participants to leave empty Finish-branded dish care soft plastics in cardboard boxes at offices, schools and community centres. Moreover, in February, TerraCycle and Territory Pharmacy launched an inaugural blister packs recycling program in the Northern Territory.
This year’s efforts are only the tip of the iceberg
VicReturn CEO Jim Round applauds the willingness of the community to embrace recycling methods and envisages CDS smashing even greater targets into its second year.
“The journey doesn’t stop here,” he says. “We are committed to seeing the scheme go from strength to strength over the next 12 months and the years ahead.”
VicReturn is collaborating with community groups such as Scouts Victoria, alongside AFL Victoria and Tennis Victoria, to widely cast the net and pursue meaningful and sustainable waste management solutions.
Future generation tasked with delivering meaningful reminder
In celebrating the one-year anniversary of CDS and the feat of saving one billion containers from landfill, more than 300 primary school students across Victoria are busy writing and placing messages of encouragement and gratitude into recycled bottles.
This initiative – on display at Scienceworks until 27 January next year – seeks to underline the power of recycling and the subsequent impact on successive generations.
Visitors to the exhibition are encouragedto bring used containers for return at the onsite Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) in the Scienceworks carpark.
TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky on embracing the wonderful potential of waste.
