Leading beverage companies to help deliver new Victorian container deposit scheme

VicReturn, a not-for-profit entity that includes beverage industry members Lion, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, and Asahi Beverages has been appointed Scheme Co-ordinator for the new Victorian container deposit scheme, (CDS Vic), announced by the Victorian Government today.

Each company has significant experience in managing container deposit schemes across Australia and will help CDS Vic create a circular economy for drink containers to reduce waste.

As Scheme Coordinator, VicReturn will manage the financial and administrative aspects of the scheme, conduct audits of the scheme to prevent fraud, pay refund amounts and collection network costs to the Network Operators and report against performance targets set by the government.

Victoria’s container deposit scheme, CDS Vic will reward Victorians with a 10-cent refund for every eligible can, carton and bottle they return. It will provide shared benefits to the community, environment and economy by delivering more and better recycling, less waste (recycling containers), less litter (cut by half), new jobs and economic opportunities across Victoria.

VicReturn will work closely with the Victorian Government and the three Network Operators, Return-it, TOMRA Cleanaway and Visy to deliver a world-class container deposit scheme for Victorians that will provide benefits to households and community groups across the state.

CDS Vic will help promote and educate the VicReturn scheme to Victorians including how they can participate, help keep bottles and cans out of the environment, and start earning refunds.

Paul Klymenko, Chair, VicReturn, said “I congratulate the Victorian Government on the introduction of its container deposit scheme. CDS Vic will have real environmental and social benefits and help create a circular economy for beverage containers.

“I also congratulate the three successful Network Operators on their appointments and look forward to working with them to make CDS Vic a huge success.

“As the co-founder and Chief Sustainability Advisor of Planet Ark, I couldn’t be more pleased to be associated with this great Victorian Scheme.”

Robert Iervasi, Group CEO, Asahi Beverages, said “Asahi Beverages is incredibly proud to be involved in delivering a container deposit scheme for Victorians.

“As the maker of some of Victoria’s most beloved beverages such as Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, Schweppes, Pepsi Max, Solo, and Cool Ridge water, we’re pleased that more of our beverage containers will now be recycled and play a part in the circular economy.

“We’re in the process of helping build a PET recycling facility in Altona, with our joint venture partners, Pact, Cleanaway, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. CDS Vic will play an important part in providing PET bottles for the Altona recycling facility, leading to better environmental outcomes for Victoria.”

Sam Fischer, Group CEO, Lion said “Lion is proud of our longstanding involvement in Australian container deposit schemes, which stretches back more than 40 years.

“As the brewer behind some of Australia’s most loved beverage brands including Victorian- born Furphy, XXXX, Stone & Wood, and James Squire we are thrilled to play a role in delivering this important scheme for the community here in Victoria.

“We have ambitious packaging and circular economy targets and look forward to the volume of our beverage containers returned and recycled increasing significantly as the Victorian scheme comes online.”

Peter West, Vice President and General Manager – Australia, Pacific & Indonesia, Coca- Cola Europacific Partners, said “At Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, we are determined to be a catalyst in Australia’s circular economy, including in Victoria, a state that’s long been integral to our business.

“The launch of CDS Vic represents a step-change for Victoria’s circular economy. Through our involvement in VicReturn, coupled with our investment in Circular Plastics Australia’s PET recycling plant in Altona with Pact Group, Cleanaway, and Asahi Beverages, we are proud to help create a closed loop in Victoria where bottles and cans can be used, collected, recycled and reborn.

“Together with our partners, we look forward to working with the Victorian Government to give people across the state the opportunity to take part in and benefit from Australia’s newest container deposit scheme.”