Overview
As part of a recycling makeover for the state, Victoria is finally going to score its own container deposit scheme — but don't go holding your breath just yet. Although first announced back in February this year, the scheme isn't set to kick off officially until 2023. So, you may have to hold stash that lockdown collection of tins and bottles if you'd like to trade it in for coin.
That said, the Victorian Government has just revealed what the container deposit scheme might look like, running through the details in an announcement made yesterday, Monday, November 2. It appears that you'll be exchanging your empty bottles, cans, cartons and juice boxes for ten cents a pop, with the scheme accepting containers between 150-millilitres and three-litres in volume (that is, those that tend to become litter rather than bigger and smaller sizes that are typically consumed at home). And you'll be dropping them off at a variety of different collection points, including automated reverse vending machines in public places, drive-through depots, over the counter in shops, at bag-drop points, and at pop-up collection points at events and festivals.
Again, don't expect the above to come to fruition until 2023, after the system has been designed and implemented in close consultation with councils and industry. The Victorian Government is also currently asking for community feedback until Monday, November 30, which you can offer by heading online. You can give your thoughts on topics spanning how containers should be received, how refunds should be processed, what kinds of containers will be eligible and how often you think you'd use the scheme.
The move has already been a long time coming, with Victoria the only Aussie state that hadn't already committed to one — Queensland's Containers for Change program launched in late 2018, while South Australia led the charge by introducing its version way back in 1977.
The container deposit scheme is just one of the Victorian Government has announced grand plans to overhaul the state's waste and recycling system, with a $300 million suite of initiatives to be rolled out across the next few years. One of the key initiatives will see homes switch from three to four different colour-coded bins, in an effort to better sort waste. A purple lid bin would be used for glass recycling; a green lid for food and garden organics; a yellow lid to recycle plastic, metal and paper; and a red lid for all other household waste. But, it's predicted the bins won't be rolled out to most households until 2030.
For more information about Victoria's proposed container deposit scheme, and to provide your feedback until Monday, November 30, visit the Victorian Government website.