This National Recycling Week (10-16 November 2025), Zoos Victoria is teaming up with Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) to launch a fun new campaign with a very serious mission: to help protect some of our most threatened frogs simply by recycling your drink containers.
Introducing our Don’t Kiss This Frog initiative – because unlike fairy tales, the real magic happens when you return your empty drink containers and they are remade into something new.
At the Healesville Sanctuary, every can or bottle recycled chips in to help its specialist keepers breed insurance populations for species such as the Baw Baw Frog.
It also supports its field biologists survey and release species like the Spotted Tree Frog back to their wild home.
With nearly three billion drink containers consumed each year, too many end up polluting the very ecosystems frogs rely on.
Through this partnership, Victorians are empowered to make simple, rewarding actions to reduce waste, restore habitats and help fund critical conservation efforts.
CDS Vic provides a 10 cent refund for every eligible drink container returned at refund points across the state, which can quickly add up.
With our partnership, that money can be donated directly to our froggy friends to help fund conservation work that supports endangered frogs who need our help most.
Visitors to Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo (and other Zoos Victoria properties) can donate their eligible CDS Vic drink containers to support frog conservation programs.
The refund will support Zoos Victoria’s frog conservation and recovery programs.
Or, you can purchase a drink at one of Zoos Victoria’s retail outlets and return the empty containers to designated Don’t Kiss This Frog bins at all Zoos Victoria properties.
You can also donate your own containers at CDS Vic refund points across Victoria by selecting Zoos Victoria as your preferred donation partner.
By returning your eligible drink containers, you’re helping fund critical conservation work at Zoos Victoria, giving local threatened amphibians a chance at their own happily ever after.
Most aluminium, glass, plastic, and carton drink containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible (look for the 10c mark on the label).
Just don’t crush your cans, so they can be scanned.
Steve Dimopoulos Minister for Environment said the Victorian Government was proud to support this initiative.
“It’s a fantastic example of how community action, sustainability and conservation can go hand in hand.”
Learn more about CDS Vic and find your nearest refund point at cdsvic.org.au.
