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.

The recently installed reverse vending machine in Creswick received a record 9500-plus containers in just one-week courtesy of 112 customers, the Hepburn Shire Council has reported.

It’s further indication of the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) success in reducing litter and supporting community fundraising, the council says.

CDS is a Victorian government initiative that provides 10-cent refund for every eligible drink container returned. Many sites are now open to accept containers and locations in the Hepburn Shire are:

• Creswick Hub, 68 Albert Street, Creswick
• Daylesford Industrial Estate, 37-39 East Street, Daylesford
• Pig and Whistle Hotel, 705 James Lane, Trentham East.

And a site for a machine in Clunes is being investigated, the council has recently reported.

The machines are operated by TOMRA Cleanaway with those intending to make a deposit also able to download the CDS Vic West app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

A Reverse Vending Machine for Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, CDS Vic, has been installed in East Street, Daylesford.

Australia’s most accessible and convenient container deposit scheme is a step closer, with the roll out of refund points continuing to progress across Victoria in preparation for the scheme’s November 1 start.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas this week announced that the Reverse Vending Machine for Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, CDS Vic, has been installed in East Street, Daylesford by Tomra.
The scheme will reward Victorians with a 10 cent refund for every eligible used drink can, bottle and carton. There will be more than 600 refund points across the state and four different ways to return eligible containers.
These will include reverse vending machines, depots, over-the-counter sites, and bag drops and collections.
CDS Vic will reduce Victoria’s litter by up to half, create new economic opportunities, generate around 640 jobs across the state, in both regional and metropolitan Victoria, and turn drink containers into new recycled products.
CDS Vic will be run by Scheme Coordinator, VicReturn, and three zone operators: TOMRA Cleanaway, VISY, and Return-It, who will establish and oversee the refund points, provide refunds to customers, and ensure proper recycling of the containers.
The zone operators are each responsible for a part of Victoria, which has been separated into three scheme zones: North, East and West.
CDS Vic also offers Victorian charities, community groups, environmental groups, sporting clubs and
educational organisations new ways to raise funds through collection drives, by operating refund points, or receiving direct donations from the community.
The scheme is part of the Victorian Government’s $515 million investment to transform the state’s waste and recycling sector. This includes the new standardised four-stream waste and recycling system, which will meet the target of diverting 80 per cent of all material away from landfill by 2030.
Donation Partner Registry will be available from October 1, 2023, ahead of the scheme starting on November 1.
Those keen to know more are being advised to keep an eye on the website for details or email donationpartners@vicreturn.com.au for updates.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas: “This is a great opportunity to help clean up our environment, while helping local sporting clubs, community groups and schools to raise valuable funds through collection drives and donations.”
Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt: “CDS Vic will maximise the number of cans, bottles and cartons being recycled into new products and reduce the amount of litter in our environment by half, while putting extra cash in Victorian pockets and creating local jobs.”
“Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme will be the most accessible and convenient scheme in the country, with more than 600 refund points across the state.”