Cash for cans – the easy way

Geelong residents frustrated with full or non-operational reverse vending machines, or the painful task of feeding them one can or bottle at a time, are being encouraged to consider dropping them at bulk depots instead.

The Victorian government’s rollout of the machines has been dogged by problems, with some people saying some of the machines listed on the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) website are not actually in place yet.

The scheme’s website lists vending machine locations as well as bulk drop-off points, where empty bottles and cans can be dropped off en-masse.

Kim works at the Brotherhood of St Laurence bulk collection point at Breakwater, and says some people are choosing to donate their refunds to charity.

“On the CDS Vic West app there is a list of charities that you can click on and your refund will donate straight to that account,” said Kim.

“They can donate either to the Brotherhood or there is a list of charities that they can also send the money to.”

For those who elect to keep the refund, payments can be received electronically, through vouchers or donations to charities.

Cash refunds are available at many depots, over-the-counter and pop-up refund points.

The CDS scheme provides a 10 cent refund for every eligible drink container returned via reverse vending machines or bulk return points across Victoria.

Bulk return points by suburb

An interactive map of all depots, pop-ups, over-the-counter and reverse vending machines is available at https://cdsvic.org.au/locations.