The ACT’s first Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) begins this Saturday (30 June).
Director of ACT NoWaste, Michael Trushell, said the new scheme will give the ACT community the chance to play their part in reducing litter and being rewarded with a 10 cent refund.
“From Saturday, a total of nine return points will be open across Canberra’s north and south side with more locations expected to join over the next 12 months as the CDS grows,” Mr Trushell said.
“To receive a 10 cent refund, residents will be able to take their eligible containers to two types of return points – express return points for returning up to 500 containers or bulk depots, which can accept any number.”
He said the ACT CDS was different from the one operating in NSW inasmuch as people can choose to collect the refund or donate it directly to a charity.
“Social enterprise groups like the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul have express shopfronts across Canberra that will benefit from the scheme,” Mr Trushell said.
He said the addresses of the return points were: 1/9 Wooley Street, Dickson (Vinnies); Corner Pitman Street and Athllon Drive, Greenway (Vinnies);
Corner Rae and Purdue Streets, Belconnen (Vinnies); Corner Anketell and Reed Streets, Tuggeranong Square, South Greenway Salvos); Shop 7, Corner Hindmarsh Drive and Botany Street, Phillip (Salvos); 32 Hoskins Street, Mitchell (Salvos) and 15 Mildura Street, Fyshwick (Salvos).
Two bulk depots would open at 151 Gladstone Street, Fyshwick and 10 Buckland Street, Mitchell.
“Eligible containers are ones that are most commonly found in the litter stream, including most containers between 150mL and 3L in size; and Glass, PET, HDPE, aluminium, steel or liquid paperboard cartons,” Mr Trushell said.
“Containers not part of the scheme are those not commonly found in litter, including all plain milk, flavoured milks 1L and above, pure juice drinks, wine, spirit bottles and cordials.”
He said that if depositors were not in a hurry to cash in their containers “it would be great if they could come and visit the shopfronts in a week or two”.
“We expect it to be a busy first few weeks and ask that you be patient with the charity shopfront operators,” Mr Trushell said.
