In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to overlook the small things that can make a difference, both in our pockets and in the environment. One such opportunity is the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) in Victoria, which has been operational for over a year now. Despite the potential for residents to cash in on recycling, it appears that many are still letting their share of an estimated $100 million slip through their fingers each year.
Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme offers a 10-cent refund for every eligible can or bottle returned to one of its collection points. While this might seem like small change, it can add up to significant savings over time. For example, if you’re a fan of Victoria Bitter and you buy a slab for $58, you could pocket $2.40 just by returning the cans. And for those who prefer soft drinks, a $50 box of Coca-Cola from Woolworths or Coles could see $3 coming back to you.
Jim Round, the CEO of VicReturn, which coordinates the scheme, has noted a growing interest since its inception. However, he also points out that ‘four in every 10 eligible containers consumed in Victoria are not yet being claimed through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme’. This means that a lot of potential refunds are simply being thrown away.
Despite the slow start, with only a third of Victorians using the scheme in its first six months, recent polling indicates that participation has now increased to half of the state’s population. The goal is to reach a return rate similar to South Australia’s, which has had its program since 1977 and achieved a 76 per cent return rate over 2022-2023.
The environmental impact of not recycling is visible in the litter found in places like Melbourne’s Yarra River, where containers that could be worth over $10 are seen floating in the water. Nationwide, cans and bottles constitute 15 per cent of litter. By incentivising recycling, the scheme hopes to reduce this figure, as evidenced by the 13.6 per cent drop in litter from beverage containers in NSW since a similar program was adopted there in 2017.
So, what motivates people to use the scheme? While environmental concerns play a role, the financial incentive is the primary driver for most participants. In Melbourne’s western suburbs, home to some of the city’s most disadvantaged communities, there has been a significant uptake of the scheme. For many facing cost-of-living challenges, the refunds provide a welcome financial boost.
Some Victorians are even choosing to donate their refunds to charity, with container collection drives organised to support local sporting teams, especially in regional areas. Family dynamics also influence participation rates, with children often collecting containers from their extended family network to earn a little extra pocket money.
If you’re wondering how you can recycle cans for cash, it’s worth noting that almost every state and territory in Australia has a container return scheme in place:
NSW: Return and Earn
Victoria: CDS Vic
Queensland: Containers for Change
SA: Container deposit scheme
WA: Containers for Change
ACT: ACT Container Deposit Scheme
NT: NT Container Deposit Scheme
Tasmania: Recycle Rewards (starting May 1)
With around 650 return points across Victoria alone, there’s likely a convenient location near you to start cashing in on your recyclables. So, before you toss that can or bottle into the bin, think about the potential savings you could be throwing away. Not only could you be contributing to a cleaner Australia, but you could also be lining your pockets in the process.
Have you participated in your state’s container deposit scheme? What has your experience been like? Do you think more people would participate if collection points were more accessible? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!
Also read: Don’t bin it—cash it in! Tasmania’s new recycling rewards program
Yep, I’m expecting another ~$70 from this month’s cans. A bit of collecting, but easy money really.
Just need wine bottles to be included in the scheme now!
Council recycling bins are there for that.
How many cans do you drink in order to get your money worth? the trip to the collection point will eat up into that money on top of your time and effort.
People who want to make good money, do this regularly by going through residents’ recycling bins; sometimes they either make a mess on people’s verges or dump wrong items into the green bin for compostable food, to facilitate their search and residents get warnings from councils for not doing the right triage.
These schemes are of mixed value and it’s as if the State Governments were counting on a low participation rate as it is money in their pockets that wouldn’t otherwise be there. In all States it is safe to say that there were several million dollars taken in this tax that will never be redeemed as the cans and bottles have already gone straight to the recycling bin or general waste bin or lost into the environment.
Whilst adjacent to a return facility in north coastal NSW in mid 20024, I observed a number of people driving up to transfer their collection to the receptical. Some of the vehicles were quite up market ones and I wondered if maybe these were actually doing the run on behalf of a community club or organisation as I couldn’t imagine the driver coming from a demograph so hard up for a few bob.