Victoria’s new Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) will reward Victorians with a 10-cent refund for every eligible can, carton and bottle they return.
Under Victoria’s CDS, first suppliers (beverage manufacturers and importers) will share responsibility for the sustainable management of their containers. As with schemes in other states, first suppliers will have to pay the cost of operating the scheme to recover eligible containers.
CDS Vic commences on 1 November 2023, and first suppliers have already been advised of the scheme price per container.
Scheme coordinator VicReturn sets the price, invoices the suppliers, and makes payments to scheme participants to enable the collection of eligible containers. It says the costs of running the scheme will change over time as it gets established and there is more uptake. VicReturn says it will provide the market with sufficient notice of changes to container pricing as the scheme matures.
The Victorian government says it has introduced CDS Vic to help reduce litter and waste, improve recycling rates, create new economic and employment opportunities across Victoria, and deliver a cleaner state. It anticipates the scheme will provide benefits to individuals and community groups across the state. VicReturn says it will work closely with the Victorian government and the network operators to deliver the most convenient and accessible CDS in Australia.
CDS Vic says the costs (ex GST) per container for first suppliers will start at 11.05c for aluminium, 11.40c for glass, 11.15c for HDPE, 11.15c for PET and 11.50c for LPB, and 11.10 cents for other materials. These prices will be reviewed and updated by VicReturn as required to ensure that the cost of running the Scheme is covered, it adds.
“The cost per container for first suppliers strikes a balance between making sure there are enough funds to pay Scheme costs, including providing the 10-cent refund per container, while keeping the costs as low as reasonably possible for first suppliers,” said VicReturn CEO, Jim Round
“We will deliver an efficient, convenient and accessible Container Deposit Scheme for Victorians."
