Many across the state of Victoria have been supportive of the government’s recent Container Deposit Scheme, which has seen more than 147 million containers returned for over $14 million in refunds in just two months.
In the week before Christmas, 15.8 million containers were collected and last week a record 18.5 million were returned, and of all the containers returned across the state since the scheme began, aluminium cans have been the most popular.
Cans made up 53 per cent of returns, followed by PET/plastic bottles (26 per cent) and glass (18 per cent).
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos had the following to say.
“It’s remarkable to see so many Victorians get involved in recycling, providing more 140 million containers and counting for re-use in new products instead of going to landfill or ending up in the environment and harming our wildlife,” he said in a media release sent to Neos Kosmos.
Dimopoulos was on hand with Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny to launch a collection point in Thomastown, one of 400 points across the state, which will grow to 600 by August.
“The CDS is a great initiative to get people recycling – we’re rewarding Victorians who do the right thing, reducing litter and making sure recyclable product don’t end up in landfill.”
Victorians can choose to pocket the refund or donate their containers to one of the 1600 participating charities, sports, community, environmental or educational groups.
Returned drink containers can be transformed into all kinds of new things, including material for roads, furniture, construction, textiles and more – creating new economic opportunities and will support more than 600 jobs across Victoria.
The Victorian government has invested $515 million to transform the state’s waste and recycling system in its aim to divert 80 per cent of all material away from landfill by 2030.
