East Gippsland Shire Council is looking forward to the launch of Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme, which begins today, (Wednesday, November 1).
In Gippsland, the scheme is being coordinated by Return-It. In the initial roll-out, there will be six sites in East Gippsland: Orbost, Mallacoota, Lakes Entrance, Omeo and Bairnsdale.
State-of-the-art machines will allow community members to deposit eligible containers and receive a 10-cent refund. This initiative seeks to encourage responsible disposal, reduce littering in our environment, and empower individuals to contribute to the circular economy.
Mayor Cr Tom Crook said the Container Deposit Scheme will have a number of benefits for East Gippsland.
"The scheme will change the way we recycle. It will reduce litter as eligible items can be collected and returned for a 10-cent refund. This will contribute to the circular economy as cans and bottles can be transformed into high-quality recycled products. I look forward to seeing the East Gippsland community embracing the scheme," Cr Crook said.
Eligible drink containers come in a variety of forms including plastic soft drink bottles, glass bottles, canned soft drinks, and small fruit juice cartons along with their respective lids.
East Gippsland collection sites open in this first stage of the Container Deposit Scheme are:
- Bairnsdale: Tambo Waste, 1 McMillan Street, Lucknow
- Bairnsdale: Bairnsdale Tip Shop (at Bairnsdale Landfill), 200 Johnstons Road, Forge Creek
- Lakes Entrance: Lakes Entrance Shopping Centre, 371 Esplanade
- Mallacoota: Lakeside, 49 Maurice Avenue
- Omeo: Crazy Cow Café & Bakery, 194 Day Avenue
- Orbost: IGA, 168 Nicholson Street
For details about all refund locations in Gippsland, visit the Container Deposit Scheme website to explore the interactive map.
