Coles’ union with TOMRA Cleanaway circulates 47 RVMs for Victorian Container Deposit Scheme

Coles is leading the most exciting sustainable drive across all its Victorian stores. The supermarket chain is on a spree to install 47 Reverse Vending Machines in alignment with the state-sponsored launch of a Container Deposit Scheme on November 1. The cash-redeemable RVMs will collect plastic, glass and aluminium drink containers.

It is vital for Victorians to participate in the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) to earn a 10-cent refund for each eligible can, bottle or carton they return. Coles General Manager Grocery Leanne White emphasizes that the CDS is an excellent opportunity for customers to be rewarded for recycling and contribute towards a sustainable environment. By returning used aluminium cans, plastic bottles and other eligible containers, one can ensure that they are recycled into new products.

Cole General Manager Leanne White exemplified: "We're proud to be adding Reverse Vending Machines to 47 stores across the state in the coming months, from Bendigo to Blackburn, Berwick and Braybrook; we want to help make recycling as easy as possible for our customers."

"Now Victorian customers can be rewarded for returning their used cans, bottles and cartons, with the option to put the funds towards their next shop at Coles, redeem for cash, give to a charity, or add it straight into their bank account," Leanne added.

TOMRA Cleanaway was specifically selected by the Victorian Government to ascertain refund junctures, including instalments of RVMs across the western suburbs of Melbourne and west of Victoria. CEO James Dorney expressed his satisfaction in partnering with Coles to establish refund points at various stores across the state.

James Dorney illustrated: "Our machines can hold up to 10,000 cartons, cans or bottles, use state-of-the-art sorting technology and are very quick and easy to use."

"Our aim is that using Reverse Vending Machines becomes part of everyday life. Every time you go and do your shopping, you return your drink containers," he asserted.

Steve Dimopoulos, Victoria's Environment Minister, seemed extremely positive about the new recycling drive and extended his support to Coles for aiding CDS Vic, who wishes to reduce the state's litter percentage by half while generating new employment opportunities.

The Minister expressed his fondness: "We thank retailers like Coles who have worked with us to install Reverse Vending Machines across the state. We're confident by having them in such convenient locations; we will be able to significantly reduce the state's litter and give Victorians the option of putting cash back in their pockets."

Once Coles' Victorian rollout is completed, the retailer will have a total of 139 container collection points at or near its stores throughout the country, with Tasmania being the only state remaining to introduce a container deposit scheme.

Last year, over 200 million drink containers, cans, cartons, and bottles were returned to Coles-linked sites. Since 2018, when the retailer began supporting various state-based schemes, more than a billion containers have been returned to Coles-linked sites.