Make a return
CDS Vic provides a 10 cent refund for every eligible drink container returned. Each bottle, can and carton that you return helps to divert valuable containers from landfill.
There are hundreds of refund points across Victoria, so look out for your local. The network has more than 600 refund points.
Get involved
In partnership with city councils, these baskets offer a new way to recycle containers on the go.
Are you a school that wants to get involved with CDS Vic? You will find lots of resources and guidance here.
Find out more about participating in Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme.
Our partners
AFL Victoria and CDS Vic have teamed up to support local football clubs across the state in raising funds and promoting sustainability. Through this exciting partnership, CDS Vic is now the Official Recycling Partner of AFL Victoria until 2027.
From 2 June 2025, CDS Vic will dollar match the first five Landcare groups to raise $1,000 through the scheme.*
Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme is proud to partner with Sustainability Victoria's ResourceSmart Schools to empower Victorian schools to recycle and reduce waste.
CDS Vic is proud to announce its groundbreaking partnership with Tennis Victoria. This exciting initiative aims to reduce waste, promote recycling, and support grassroots tennis communities across the state to raise funds.
About us
See our commitment to fraud and corruption control, and how to get in touch if you have any concerns
It was a game of chance, and Victorians played hard. Five lucky recyclers – and one wildlife shelter – have each been rewarded with a $10,000 prize.
Our Win A Million… Cents competition, which ran from 5 May to 15 June, encouraged people across the state to return their eligible drink containers, with one entry for each 50 returned. Entries numbered in the tens of thousands, with many taking part in the scheme for the first time.
Winners returned their containers in the Geelong, Gippsland, and Wodonga regions, as well as the outer Melbourne areas of Bayswater and Macleod.
Geelong resident Lucinda won with her first-ever return, having been collecting for her in-laws while they were on holiday. “When I was looking online for a place to drop them off, I saw it was the last day to enter the competition,” she said. Lucinda dropped her containers off at the Norlane Reverse Vending Machine and ended up winning $10,000!
Also getting involved for the first time was Glen Waverly dad Wayne. Having started, he says he’s going to continue. “Returning your empties is straightforward, you just have to work out which refund point works for you,” Wayne said. “I’m already driving past the machine at Bayswater Mitre 10 twice a day on my commute, so it’s easy to keep collecting and returning once I have enough.”
South Dudley local Kim takes a bag with her on her daily walks and collects any eligible containers she spots along the way – some days up to 30 cans! “You collect more money than you think just by taking a bag with you on walks and you're cleaning up the neighbourhood,” she said.
Recycling is a family activity for Bundoora grandmother Joanne and Wodonga daughter Reana. Joanne returned containers at the Wodonga CDS Vic Depot while visiting, and not only won $10,000 but also the bonus charity prize. The animal-loving family got to nominate a registered CDS Vic charity or community group to receive an additional $10,000 prize, and selected Our Haven Wildlife Shelter in Stradbroke (Gippsland region) as the most deserving.
Our Haven Wildlife Shelter is a not-for-profit that relies on donations to run. It is run by Theresa and Tony Matthews who care for injured and orphaned wildlife and domestic animals. Our Haven Wildlife Shelter is one of thousands of charities, schools and sporting clubs across the state that have collectively raised more than $21.2 million through the scheme so far.
Theresa cried on the phone when she got the news about winning the donation partner prize. “We have 25 joeys on bottles currently – it’s like having 25 babies!” she said. “We initially got a grant to build a koala or wombat pen, but we needed extra funding. This money will help us finish it and provide milk and hard feed for a while."
Jim Round, CEO of scheme coordinator VicReturn, said the competition was a way to thank Victorians for participating in the recycling scheme and to encourage those like Wayne who were yet to get involved.
“When we launched the ‘Win A Million! Cents’ competition, we weren’t sure what the response would be, but we’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm from all corners of the state,” Mr Round said. “Seeing winners come from across Victoria reflects just how widespread scheme participation has become — and we’re so proud to celebrate that.”
“Of course, there’s still more work to do to reach our target of diverting 80% of all material from landfill by 2030,” Mr Round said. “I encourage every Victorian to recycle their drink containers through the scheme and help keep litter off our streets, parks and waterways.”
Want to know more?
• Learn about fundraising with our scheme
• Ways to get your refund, including donations
• Check out our locations map
