July 3rd, 2024Added incentive to recycle

Clunes residents will soon have added financial incentive to recycle many of their glass and plastic containers following the installation of a reverse vending machine in Fraser Street.

To be operated by TOMRA Cleanaway, the WestZone operator for the state’s container deposit scheme, the machine has been installed on land held by the town’s local IGA supermarket.

Expected to become operational from this Friday (July 5), the new reverse vending machine follows similar ones already operating in Creswick, Daylesford and Trentham.

“We are proud to be partnering with the local Clunes IGA to host this new reverse vending machine which is expected to go live Friday 5 July,” a TOMRA Cleanaway spokesperson said.

Clunes IGA supermarket owner Dianne Hill says the supermarket agreed to provide the land for the machine after the site was identified as one of the few locations in the town suited for the machine due to the fact that it has both three phase power and staff on site seven days a week.

Earlier this year the Hepburn Shire Council reported that soon after the installation of the reverse vending machine in Creswick, that machine had received a record 9500-plus containers in just one-week courtesy of 112 customers, pointing to the success of the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) in reducing litter and supporting community fundraising.

CDS Vic is a state government initiative that provides a 10 cent refund for every returned eligible drink container returned across the state.