Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) Victoria
16 May 2023
The Victorian government has announced the long-awaited Container Deposit Scheme, will start in November 2023. Information about the scheme is below.
The Scheme will reward Victorians with a ten-cent refund for every eligible can, carton and bottle they return, aligning Victoria with other Australian states and territories.
CDS Vic will be run by a Scheme Coordinator and Network Operators.
Scheme Coordinator, VicReturn, will:
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manage the Scheme's financial and administrative aspects of the scheme.
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conduct audits of the Scheme to prevent fraud.
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pay refund amounts and collection network costs to the Network Operators.
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report against performance targets set by the government.
Network Operator(s) - Return-it, TOMRA Cleanaway and Visy will:
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establish and maintain a network of refund collection points in their appointed zones.
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distribute refund amounts to consumers.
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distribute payments to refund collection point operators.
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report on CDS participation and redemption rates.
Next Steps
The Scheme Coordinator and Network Operators are preparing for the Scheme's commencement.
This mobilisation period will include the following:
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Setting up refund collection point infrastructure.
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Liaising with organisations expressing interest in becoming a collection point operator.
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Helping ensure beverage first suppliers have registered their eligible containers with the Scheme.
Impacts on the Retailer?
Other than passing on the increased cost of goods to the consumer, there is nothing more a retailer needs to do.
MGA, in consultation with the Victorian Government, is ensuring the communications program will make consumers aware the additional cost of a beverage, is a result of the CDS ten cents per eligible container charge, not a retail cost increase. A simple point-of-sale information flyer will be created, to be positioned at all checkouts and across the store.
For more information about the CDS or to express an interest in becoming a collection point, contact the Network Operator servicing your region.
For list of detailed operational zones click the below:
