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
We're running a competition from Monday, 5 May through to Sunday, 15 June 2025 where we'll be giving away five cash prizes of A Million CENTS. That's five prizes of $10,000 up for grabs!
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
Your chance to Win A Million…Cents
If you're a drink container collector, here's your chance to cash in while doing good for the planet and keeping your community clear of litter.
We're running a competition from Monday, 5 May through to Sunday, 15 June 2025 where we'll be giving away five cash prizes of A Million CENTS. That's five prizes of $10,000 up for grabs!
To keep the good vibes going, one of our five lucky winners will also receive an extra $10,000 to donate to a registered CDS Vic donation partner of their choice.
Competition details
How to enter
- Return at least 50 eligible containers in a single transaction between 5 May -15 June 2025.
- Keep your proof of return for that transaction - that's the transaction receipt from your local depot / an RVM voucher / the Proof of Return form from your local OTC. If you used the CDS Vic app, it's your refund record.
- Head to winamillioncents.com.au and complete the online entry form, accept the competition Terms & Conditions and upload a photo or screenshot of your proof of return.
What are you waiting for? Get collecting, get your proof of return and get your entries in now at winamillioncents.com.au!
How does it work?
You'll automatically receive 1 entry for every 50 eligible containers that you return in a single transaction (whether you keep or donate the refund).
For example:
| Number of containers returned | Entries received |
| 0-49 | 0 |
| 50-99 | 1 |
| 100-149 | 2 |
| 150-199 | 3 |
| And so on! |
The online entry form automatically calculates the number of entries for you. Simples!
To qualify as valid entries, your container returns will need to occur during the competition period: 5 May - 15 June 2025.
You can enter the competition as many times as you like during the competition period. Every time you enter, you'll need to return at least 50 eligible containers, complete the online entry form and upload your proof of return.
The competition closes 15 June. Terms & Conditions apply - don't forget to give them a read.
FAQs
What is a proof of return?
To enter the competition, you'll need upload a photo or screen shot confirming the number of containers that you returned. This is called your proof of return. Depending on where or how you returned your containers, the proof of return may be different:
- I used the CDS Vic app - proof of return is a screen shot of your refund record in the app.
- I went to a depot - proof of return is the transaction receipt that the depot gives you when you return your containers. If you used the CDS Vic app at the depot, proof of return is a screenshot of your refund record.
- I went to an OTC - proof of return is the Proof of Return forms that the OTC will give you when you return containers during the competition period. If you used the CDS Vic app at the OTC, proof of return is a screenshot of your refund record.
- I went to an RVM - proof of return is the voucher issued by the RVM. If you used the CDS Vic app at the RVM, proof of return is a screenshot of your refund record.
Got more than 50 containers ready to return? There's no need to split them up into separate lots of 50!
The competition's online entry form automatically calculates the number of entries for you. It doesn't matter whether you return 50 or 300 or 2,300 containers in one go, you'll only need the one proof of return for that transaction. There's no need to bundle up your containers into separate lots of 50.
The RVM went down while I was returning my containers. I now have a couple of receipts and it looks like I haven’t returned all my containers in the one return/transaction.
You can submit more than one receipt (proof of return), as long as the receipts are all from the same return of at least 50 containers at the one refund point.
Make sure that you save the screen shots/photos of your proof of return receipts in your phone's photo gallery or save them all in the same place on your computer. Then when you're completing the competition entry form, select the shots/photos of your receipts and upload them at the same time (ie do not upload them one at a time).
I returned some containers before the competition opened. Can I use that receipt (proof of return) to enter the competition?
The Win A Million Cents competition runs from 5 May – 15 June 2025. Only container returns from within that date range will qualify as valid competition entries.
I submitted the entry form, but haven't received a confirmation email
When you successfully submit a competition entry, a green confirmation will appear on your screen under the submit button. If this comes up on your screen, then you should automatically receive an email confirming the number of entries that you've received. If you haven't received a confirmation, please try checking your junk/spam folder.
