Martha HAYLETT (Ripon) (14:44): (457)

My question is for the Minister for Environment, and I ask: how many drink cans, bottles and cartons have been recycled across the Ripon electorate as part of the container deposit scheme to date?

Locals across the region are so excited about our Labor government’s new CDS Vic scheme. So many people came up to me at the Clunes annual show and the Beaufort annual show to rave about it. It is giving locals 10-cent refunds for every drink can, bottle and carton they recycle. It will reduce the amount of litter in Victoria by up to half while putting money back in the pockets of hardworking people.

Depending on the type of refund point, locals can choose whether they want to receive their refund in the form of cash, a retail voucher or an electronic refund. People can also choose to donate their refund to a local charity or community organisation registered with the scheme. There are now refund points in Maryborough, Flagstaff, Beaufort, Ararat, St Arnaud and Creswick in my electorate, with work to find a location in Inglewood well underway.

I want to thank the legendary local businesses and volunteers helping to make the scheme run smoothly.