General News
15 January, 2024
Asteria process over 300,000 containers since CDS launch
Nearly three months into the program, the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) has hit a significant landmark, with Victorians returning more than 100 million containers resulting in $10 million in reimbursements. In November last year, the Victorian...
Nearly three months into the program, the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) has hit a significant landmark, with Victorians returning more than 100 million containers resulting in $10 million in reimbursements.
In November last year, the Victorian Government invested $515 million into the CDS, allowing drink containers to be traded for 10 cents cash, voucher or donation.
Since then, the CDS has been processing on average around 10 million cans, cartons and bottles across the state every week across its approximate 400 refund points, with Victorians returning an average 129 containers per transaction.
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos has called the program a success in supporting the government's target of diverting 80 percent of materials to landfill by 2030.
“It’s remarkable to see so many Victorians get involved in recycling, providing 100 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.
“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.”
The highest performing refund points comes from a surprise source in Mildura, returning a staggering 4.1 million containers since the schemes inception.
The influx of containers has forced many refund points to close their doors on numerous occasions, including the local refund point found at Asteria Business Services.
They have received over 300,000 containers, with manager of supported employment, Linda Gerring, saying they have had no trouble filling the 30 nally bins they receive every week.
“It has been overwhelming with the amount of containers people have been saving and bringing in not just for us but statewide — nobody expected the sheer volume the state has received,” she said.
“We reopened last Friday and from 1 to 4 pm, nearly 70 percent of our bins were full — then we had to close after an hour on Saturday.
“The stop and start has been frustrating for us and most importantly for our customers — we feel for them, and everyone involved is trying their best to keep up with demand across the state.
“Hopefully we will be able to get more containers in soon so we can process more and stay open for longer.”
While the continuous closures have been frustrating, Ms Gerring is more concerned with the positive impact the program has been able to have on the community.
“It really is the best thing for our environment, everyone is getting on board doing the right thing and now it is going to be used properly and be turned into construction and road material,” she said.
“We love seeing the kids bringing in containers collecting some pocket money — some kids were able to buy a swing set after collecting containers from family members and in parks in two months.
“How good is that, they are helping to clean up our town and are able to get something great as a result.”
Asteria provide disability support, including providing opportunities for employment at their business services.
Ms Gerring said the CDS has also been a beneficial program for their supported employees.
“Our supported employees have been helping out where they can and it has been great creating new jobs and improving our variety of jobs we can offer,” she said.
“We value building a lot of their workplace skills, so this has been great to give them more opportunities to develop their planning and people skills.”
To find your nearest refund point and for more information, visit cdsvic.org.au.