Container Deposit Systems eyes Victorian container deposit scheme
An Adelaide technology company is making an early pitch for Victoria’s newly announced container deposit scheme.
Recycling technology company Container Deposit Systems (CDS) is making an early play for Victoria’s newly announced container deposit scheme.
Victoria will become the last Australian jurisdiction to roll out a cash-for-cans scheme when it launches in 2023, with each can, carton or bottle eligible for a 10c refund when returned to a participating depot.
Adelaide-based CDS has developed vision-based sorting technology which is currently used in recycling collection depots in Queensland, Western Australia, the ACT and South Australia.
Its supervised self-serve machines recognise and count all eligible containers of any shape and condition, delivering to customers an on-the-spot receipt which can be redeemed at a cash terminal.
And given there’s no reliance on barcode recognition, the machine can instantly process eligible cans and other containers even when they are damaged or crushed, or when the label is removed.
CDS executive chairman Brett Duncanson said the technology delivered faster sorting times than competing technologies.
“Data from Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the ACT also shows that CDS machines accelerate return rates and secure jobs in recycling,” he said.
“Speed and accuracy are what makes this possible – our machines handle 20 million items every week with 99.9 per cent accuracy at 78 depots around Australia.
“CDS machines will be particularly welcomed by local community groups, sporting clubs and charities that stand to benefit from the new container deposit scheme in Victoria. Our technology provides them the best path into generating money from recycling for their clubs and causes.”
The Victorian government finalised its plan for a container deposit scheme in April, allowing containers to be deposited either over the counter at shops, or at reverse vending machines hosted at sites such as local sporting clubs and charities.
It is aimed at dramatically decreasing the number of drink containers in household recycling bins, and will allow 3 billion containers - almost half the rubbish found in streets and waterways - to be correctly recycled.
Victoria’s scheme comes close to 45 years after South Australia became the first state or territory to use container refunds as a way to incentivise recycling.
CDS was established in 2016 out of a collaboration between UniSA, a depot collection operator, recycling leaders, and engineering firms Macweld Industries and Sage Automation.
The technology was commercialised in 2018, and since then more than 170 machines have been manufactured and leased to depot collection operators across the country, sorting 20 million containers for up to 75,000 customers each week.
Mr Duncanson said the company had invested more than $4.5m in research and development over the past five years, with the machines designed and manufactured at the Tonsley Innovation District south of Adelaide.
“CDS technology is already in its third generation and is designed to allow staff with disabilities and the public to confidently operate the machines,” he said.
“An imminent fourth generation CDS machine will respond anew to the continually changing needs and demands of clients in different jurisdictions.”
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