News and updates

7 April 2026

Together, Victorians have returned 3 billion eligible drink containers through Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme since 1 Nov 2023.

That’s $300 million back to the community — including over $3 million donated to charities and community groups.

This is every day, practical sustainability in action. Less landfill, cleaner recycling streams and a stronger circular economy.

It’s also about people helping people.

By choosing to donate their refunds, individuals, families, schools, clubs and workplaces are giving charities and community organisations a real boost, including:

• Scouts Victoria
• The Good Friday Appeal
• The Salvation Army
• Rotary Club of Mount Martha
• RSPCA Victoria.

Want to turn your containers into community support?

Make your choice of donation partner at a reverse vending machine (RVM) or through the app next time you return eligible containers.

Find your nearest refund point and how it works on the CDS Vic website

1 April 2026

Great to be in Ararat last week, an opportunity for Recycling Victoria, Environment Protection Authority Victoria and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to join local government from the Grampians region to focus on waste management, resource recovery and Victoria’s circular economy.

Meeting face-to-face to share local insights, identify challenges and showcase innovation and opportunity helps us uncover practical ways of working together to deliver better outcomes for communities and the environment.

Key updates and topics for discussion were:

• Recycling Victoria priorities and our forthcoming merger with EPA
• Annual Progress Report - Victorian Recycling Infrastructure Plan
• Circular Economy Risk, Consequence and Contingency Plan
• the forthcoming 4 bin Household Waste and Recycling Service Standard
• local government collection data
• Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme

Conversations with councils are essential and we thank everyone who made the time to join, share and connect.

18 March 2026

Our recycling heroes are the thousands of Victorians delivering real impact through Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme.

Your actions have driven a 71% reduction in eligible drink container litter since the scheme launched in November 2023.

Global Recycling Day recognises recyclable materials as essential to protecting our planet’s natural resources. It’s a reminder that everyday actions play a critical role in building a strong circular economy.

CDS Vic is a simple, convenient way to be part of the solution. Before CDS Vic, drink containers made up nearly half of all litter in Victoria.

Today, that number is steadily dropping thanks to shared product stewardship, accessible refund points and the incentive of a 10 cent refund.

So, thanks to the recycling heroes out there.

Return your eligible drink containers and, importantly, encourage others to do the same - every container returned helps keep valuable materials out of hashtag#landfill and in circulation.

For more information: Container Deposit Scheme
For more inspiration: 'Making a difference at Red Rock Christian College'

4 March 2026

The Victorian Recycling Infrastructure Plan (VRIP) Annual Progress Report has been released, capturing a year of progress across our state’s recycling system — from October 2024 to October 2025.

The report highlights key infrastructure developments, tracks delivery of VRIP actions and directions, and focuses on emerging challenges that may need coordinated effort.

The report builds on the inaugural VRIP by giving councils, industry and state government a clearer, shared view of our sector’s priorities and pressures.

A resilient recycling system demands planning and a shared understanding across government, industry and councils.

This report continues to provide the evidence base we need to make informed, long-term decisions for Victoria’s circular economy.

Download it now

27 January 2026

Victoria’s Waste to Energy Scheme licenses and regulates operators to ensure only specific amounts and types of waste are used in thermal waste to energy processing.

The Waste to Energy Scheme encourages investment that supports diversion of residual waste from landfill, while avoiding risks to recycling outcomes in the future.

Recycling Victoria regulates market-related aspects of thermal waste to energy processes and sharing insight into this key component of Victoria's waste management approach is an important part of that role.

Find out more about Victoria's Waste to Energy Scheme

22 January 2026

Congratulations to the Victorian recipients of project support through the Recycling Modernisation Fund (round 5):

• Pact Recycling (Cheltenham)
• APR Plastics (Dandenong)
• Australian Soft Plastics Recycling (Pakenham)
• RE4ORM (Barnawatha).

It’s all about building a sustainable and stronger circular economy; these plastic recycling projects focus on processing, manufacturing and production improvements that will boost plastic recycling by 16,700 tonnes annually.

The Victorian Recycling Modernisation Fund is an investment in strengthening our waste and recycling sector and that’s something we like to share news about.

Read the full media release

New grants are open (round 6)

Visit Sustainability Victoria's website to find out more about this great funding opportunity.