The Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) is a Victorian Government initiative that rewards Victorians with a 10-cent refund for every eligible drinking container they recycle at designated refund points.

The introduction of the scheme will benefit the Merri-bek community by:

• Reducing litter in streets and waterways
• Providing charities, community groups, environmental organisations, sports groups, and educational organisations with a potential fund-raising stream
• Increasing recycling participation.

One of the ways that residents can participate in the CDS is recycling bottles and cans through self-service drop-off points called “reverse vending machines”. Other ways that residents will be able to participate in the CDS is through over-the-counter drop-off locations and automated drop-off depots.

The Victorian Government has partnered with 3 zone operators who deliver the refund points across Victoria. Our zone operators, TOMRA Cleanaway, install and manage the reverse vending machines, manage refunds to customers and donation partners, and ensure the proper recycling of containers.

These new reverse vending machines allow residents to be reimbursed for recycling eligible containers including cans, cartons, and bottles between 150ml and 3L in size. These machines typically receive 10,000 containers per day per machine.

Whilst TOMRA Cleanaway install and manage the machines, the locations of the machines on council land are decided by Council.

There will be a range of different refund points across Merri-bek, located on a mix of private and council land. We will invite comments from the community for all proposed locations on council land.

At this stage, we have identified 2 locations on council land as reverse vending machine locations:

• 797 Sydney Road, Brunswick
• Domain Street, Hadfield

We invited comments on these locations between Monday 25 September and Monday 23 October 2023.

For this project, you can provide feedback on current and future proposed locations of the reverse vending machines.

What can't be changed?

Like other councils, we are working in partnership with the Victorian Government on this project, and therefore some decisions have already been made. They include:

• Council's participation in the program.
• The recycling processor Council is working with to the install and manage the machines.
• Which drink containers can and cannot be deposited in the machines.
• The criteria for selecting a suitable location.

Tell us what you think

As other locations are identified across Merri-bek, we will ask you for your feedback on any proposed locations for the installation of reverse vending machines on council land under the Victorian Government’s Container Deposit Scheme.

The survey for 797 Sydney Rd, Brunswick and Domain Street, Hadfield is now closed.

What happens next

Following the consultation period, we will review all feedback received to understand your concerns and comments regarding the new reverse vending machines. Over time, as other locations are identified across Merri-bek, we will ask for your feedback on those locations too.