Tomra pitches to run Victoria’s container deposit scheme

Drink bottles could be dropped off at supermarket centres in exchange for cash if the state government backs a world-leading vending machine company to run Victoria’s container deposit scheme.

Empty drink bottles could be exchanged for cash at supermarkets and shopping centres under a plan for Victoria’s container deposit scheme.

The Herald Sun can reveal Norwegian company Tomra wants to bring its world-leading reverse vending machines to Victoria after successfully setting up a similar scheme in New South Wales.

The company will pitch to run Victoria’s container deposit program, which the Andrews Government this week confirmed would be up and running by 2023.

Tomra business development and strategy director Markus Fraval said the company’s system had seen 3.2 billion containers collected in New South Wales in two years, with almost 60 per cent of people now participating.

More than 800 reverse vending machines are operating at supermarkets and shopping centres and Mr Fraval said convenience and the value of returning containers were the two key factors in similar schemes succeeding around the world.

Zoe McKimm at the Tomra kiosk recycling initiative. Picture: AAP

“Modern lifestyles are pretty busy … It’s no extra trip, you do it as part of your weekly habit, and it makes it much easier to participate,” he told the Herald Sun.

Mr Fraval said the machines could be installed in carparks or even in stores, and that people could feed in multiple bottles within seconds. They would then receive a receipt to be exchanged for cash or used as credit for their grocery shopping.

In New South Wales, the machines are emptied several times a day, with the waste collected, processed and sold on to companies who re-use it for other products.

The state government has not decided which materials will be accepted in Victoria’s container deposit scheme, but Mr Fraval said Tomra’s machines could handle 99 per cent of containers, with the average person using about 450 a year.

Premier Daniel Andrews said this week that the government would lead a detailed consultation process to design the scheme, including how much Victorians will receive for returning containers.

Industry experts believe 10 cents per container is a likely level. Mr Fraval said it was important the scheme was easy for people to use so they could get that money back, given beverage prices would likely rise by the same amount.

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