Fed up with travelling interstate to recycle and receive the 10-cent-per-item refund, Shepparton residents will soon have a solution on their doorstep.
The much-anticipated Container Deposit Scheme is set to launch in Victoria on November 1, bringing with it a host of economic and environmental benefits.
Shepparton, in particular, is set to benefit with its own depot at the Foott facility at 24 Carroll Rd, offering locals a practical and profitable recycling solution.
“It’s been a pretty busy time, as you can imagine, because we’re all getting prepared for the first of November,” Foott chief executive Andrew Yeoland said.
Mr Yeoland also emphasised the significance of ensuring that the depots were ready with all the necessary machinery.
The CDS will provide employment opportunities in the region.
Mr Yeoland revealed the recruitment of 16 new positions across their depots in Shepparton, Benalla, Yarrawonga, and Cobram as part of the CDS initiative.
“We recently started advertising for new positions,” he said.
“We’re going to be recruiting about 16 new positions as part of the CDS, which is great. So, it’s very exciting but very busy, too.”
The scheme also provides an avenue for individuals and charities to earn money.
By collecting cans or bottles and returning them to a depot or a machine, people can receive a 10-cent refund per item.
“It’s a great opportunity for the community to also get involved in this program,” Mr Yeoland said.
“So, the general public gets 10 cents – a bit of pocket money for the kids, but it’s also an opportunity for people to donate to a donating partner if they wish.”
He also said Foott would work with Visy to cover the northern regions.
The Shepparton depot will play an important role in collecting and processing volumes before dispatching them to end markets on behalf of Visy.
Mr Yeoland said the Foott facility will feature a high-speed counting machine to handle a large volume of containers at once, making it a swift and efficient process for individuals to offload their containers, receive a docket, and either claim cash or donate to a partner charity.
“The whole idea of the depots is that they’re larger, and they’re able to take a lot more of the general public, making it a fast and efficient process for them to offload their containers,” he said.
The CDS arrangement is a welcome change, especially for Victorian residents who previously had to travel interstate to participate in similar recycling schemes.
Mr Yeoland said the CDS not only encouraged recycling but also simplified managing single-source waste streams. He also highlighted the minimal contamination, which aided in easier recycling.
“The benefit here is that we’ve got a very easy way of managing single-source waste streams,” he said.
Mr Yeoland also sees the CDS as a stepping stone to further environmental and community projects.
“At the moment, we see this expanding; this is really phase one,” he said.
“As this continues to build and grow, we’ll find that there’s greater opportunities for more depots or certainly more drop-off points.”
From November 1, the Foott depot in Shepparton will be open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and will also welcome recyclers on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm.
For additional details on the CDS scheme or for charities interested in registering as a donation partner, visit cdsvic.org.au
For more insights on the Foott facility, head to www.foott.com.au