How much cash Victorians will receive in future for recycling containers

The independent operator of the Victorian government’s return-and-earn recycling program has revealed what it will pay in the future for recycled containers — and it’s not good news.

There are no plans to expand the list of eligible containers to include milk containers. Picture: Supplied

Refunds for Victoria’s popular cash-for-containers scheme will not be boosted to 20 cents despite mounting pressure to increase the payouts and get more people recycling.

VicReturn, the independent operator of the Victorian government’s return-and-earn recycling program, has confirmed the current 10 cent refund is here to stay.

Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the scheme operating in Victoria, a VicReturn spokesperson told the Herald Sun: “The 10-cent refund for eligible containers will remain fixed and an increase in the deposit amount is not currently being considered.”

The move will come as a blow for the tens of thousands of Victorians who have enthusiastically taken up the scheme since its introduction on November 1, 2023, and who are hoping for an increase.

Leith and his sister Mackenzie in mid 2020, collecting cans. Picture: Sarah Matray

The operator has also confirmed there are no plans to expand the list of eligible containers to include wine bottles and milk containers.

However, they remain positive support for the program will continue.

“Victorians continue to embrace the Container Deposit Scheme in record numbers, with around 900 million containers returned in less than a year and more than $90m back in the pockets of Victorians across state,” the spokesperson said.

The move to not double the refund has been met with criticism from recycling advocates with some saying it’s not surprising that drink industry giants — which have added 12.5 cents to the price tags to pay for the scheme — would be keen to hold on to the hundreds of millions of dollars in extra revenue generated.

Director of Reloop Pacific, Robert Kelman, said: “Of course Vic Return would say no because they are the beverage industry – so they don’t want to get higher return rates, or pay out the refund amount. It’s up to the government to decide whether they want a higher refund amount. The beverage industry will always resist this.

Grog bottles will still not be accepted. Picture: Supplied

“But we do know that many consumers are using this scheme as a way to supplement their incomes, and that a refund increase is popular.”

Jeff Angel, director of leading recycling advocates Boomerang Alliance warned that not increasing the refund could see Victorians lose interest in the scheme in the long term.

“That's what we saw happen in South Australia. Rising inflation reduced the worth of the refund and the number of people using the scheme dropped and there’s a real concern that could happen in Victoria.”

Currently all other states operating similar schemes, including New South Wales and Queensland, offering a 10 cent refund.

Mr Angel said Victoria could become a national leader by making the first move and he urged the state to lobby drink giants to make the change.

Liberal spokesman James Newbury said Victorians needed relief with the cost-of-living pressures.