By Callum Ludwig
The Yarra Ranges Enterprise Centre (YREC) in Warburton is the new home of a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) as part of the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic).
Installed on Thursday 23 January and aiming to be operational by Thursday 30 January, the new amenity will provide a refund point for eligible drink containers of both locals and visitors.
YREC Executive Officer Alison Fitzgerald and Director John Ridley were on-site watching the RVM get installed and Ms Fitzgerald said it was wonderful.
“It came out of the blue a bit for us, but it’d be very important in helping lift the profile of YREC and also provide some additional funding into the facility as maintenance is a constant issue for us,” she said.
“We’d love to do some capital improvements and this will enable us to do that and improve the site to attract more people and help more businesses, but this has been in conversation for a few months and it’s just very exciting to see it actually happen today and be craned in,”
“We’re all about security for our tenants, our small businesses, so we’re just having to make a few changes like fences and things like that but otherwise it’s just creating the presence, more people coming on board and just engaging with our tenants, our tenants are excited too because they’ll have more people knocking on their door, wanting their products and services and just being aware that they’re here.”
The CDS Vic North Zone RVM is located at 21 Woods Point Road, Warburton and will provide a refund of 10 cents per container. The refund can be redeemed as a cash voucher refundable at Woolworth Supermarkets, via an electronic funds transfer, or as a donation to a charity.
Mr Ridley said they think it will be a terrific impetus for more recycling in the town.
“I expect that quite a few clubs will make use of the way the app can be configured so that if you’re a member of a sports club you can take your cans along and the money goes to your sports club,” he said.
“The history of these units in other similar towns is very positive and in particular the location with the caravan park will be very significant as people will be bringing their bags over, and it’s certainly convenient for people going further out to call by.”
Since the CDS began on 1 November 2023, more than 1.3 billion containers have been deposited across the state. Visy, which is responsible for the installation of refund points across the Loddon, Mallee, and Hume regions and the inner north and eastern suburbs of Melbourne, has installed over 245 refund points to date.
“We continue to expand our network of refund points in the Yarra Ranges Council to make recycling easy and rewarding for all.” said Tim O’Donnell, Visy General Manager, Container Deposit Scheme.
The community can find their nearest refund point, and access their electronic refunds, through the CDS Vic North app for iOS or Android.
To find out more about Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme visit cdsvic.org.au.
