Who operates CDS Vic

Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme operates on a shared responsibilities model, which separates administration and regulation aspects from operational tasks. Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) provides shared benefits to the community, environment, and economy by delivering:

more and better recycling
less waste – old containers become new ones
less litter – cut by up to half
hundreds of new jobs and economic opportunities across Victoria
a cleaner, greener state.

Who operates CDS Vic?

CDS Vic operates on a shared responsibilities model, which separates administration and regulation aspects from operational tasks. The Scheme Coordinator, VicReturn, is responsible for managing the financial and administrative aspects and Return-it, TOMRA Cleanaway, and Visy are the Zone Operators responsible for establishing and maintaining a network of refund points. Recycling Victoria oversees and regulates the scheme.

Scheme Coordinator

VicReturn is the Scheme Coordinator, and is responsible for:

managing the financial and administrative aspects of CDS Vic
conducting audits of CDS Vic to prevent fraud
paying refund amounts and collection network costs to the Zone Operators
reporting against performance targets set by the government.

Zone Operators

Return-it, TOMRA Cleanaway and Visy have been appointed as Zone Operators and are responsible for:

establishing and maintaining a network of refund points in their appointed zones
distributing refund amounts to consumers
distributing payments to refund point operators
reporting on CDS participation and redemption rates.

The map below outlines which part of Victoria each Zone Operator is responsible for establishing and maintaining refund points.

Zone Operators map

CDS Vic Zone Operator Map

Refund point operators

Refund point operators may include small businesses, community organisations, charities, sports clubs, and councils throughout Victoria. Zone Operators are responsible for sub-contracting to refund point operators.

Updated 14 July 2025

Economic Growth Statement

Mini vic.gov.au

Who operates CDS Vic