VIC FAQs

The easiest way to check if your container is eligible is to look for the 10 cent mark. In Victoria, most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard drink containers between 150mL and 3 litres are eligible for a refund.

Learn more about container eligibility HERE

All containers smaller than 150mL and bigger than 3 litres are not eligible for a refund. Other ineligible containers include: 

• plain milk containers 

• glass containers which have contained wine or pure spirits 

• large containers (1 litre or more) which have contained flavoured milk, pure juice, cask wine or cask water 

• cordial or vegetable juice containers 

• wine sachets above 250mL 

• registered health tonics 

Household food containers (e.g. tuna cans) are also not eligible for refunds. 

You can continue to recycle many of these containers – check with your local council to see which containers can still be recycled through your household recycling bin.

Learn more about container eligibility HERE

Containers must be empty. You don’t have to rinse each container, but it will help you store them cleanly before returning them.

Keep the label on and don’t crush your container, so it can be accepted by a Reverse Vending Machine.

We encourage you to keep the lids on your containers, this will help to make sure every part of your container is recycled. Containers without lids are still accepted.

Containers returned through reverse vending machines (RVMs) need a readable barcode so they can be scanned to make sure they are eligible. 

You can find the full list and your nearest return point here.

Eligible containers can be returned at any TOMRA Cleanaway refund point across the Victorian West Zone.

Reverse Vending Machines allow you to return your containers quickly and get your refund right away – Ideal for any number of containers. To get started, simply insert your containers into the chute.

A Reverse Vending Machine is your high-tech option to return empty eligible containers for recycling. Simply insert your empty containers into the chute at the front of the machine. Containers will be scanned to ensure they are eligible for a refund. 

When you’ve finished depositing the containers, the Reverse Vending Machine will issue your refund via your nominated payout method.

Containers are given a new life by transforming them into new streams of material for recycling – meaning your containers can be turned into new drink containers, as well as other useful products.

Here’s how it works: 

– TOMRA Cleanaway sort returned containers into material types before transporting them to be processed. 

– The sorted containers are then transported to a processing facility, where the processor prepares the material for recycling. 

– Recyclers then purchase the materials to recycle them into new products. This includes new glass and PET bottles, aluminum cans and other items like clothing and plastic-based construction items. 

– When the materials are recycled into a new eligible container, the circular economy journey starts again!

Setup and select bank account as your preferred payout option and any pending balance, pending E-vouchers and all future recycling sessions will be paid directly to your bank account – until you amend to another payout option. 

You can contact our customer service team on 1800 237 842 for further assistance.

Your refund will take one banking day to arrive in your account. Banking days are generally the same as business days.

We do not collect data such as usernames and passwords used to log into your online banking. The details of your preferred bank account remain in the app so that you don’t have to repeatedly connect your bank account.

To remove your bank account details from your account click the ‘More’ button at the top right of the home screen of your app, select ‘Edit Payout Methods’ and then select ‘Remove’ under your bank account details.

Absolutely! This is an additional payout option, it is not replacing any of the existing payment options within the app. Instead, you can set your payout as either an E-voucher, PayPal or donation.

Please note, E-vouchers are only available at return points that provide a Coles or Woolworths cash voucher.

In the middle of the home screen, you will see “Your active payout” which will either state “PayPal”, “Digital Voucher”, “Bank Transfer” or a donation campaign name. 

By clicking on this white box, you will open up a list of all payout methods available. Here you can select to add your bank account to set up direct bank transfers.

To do this, you would need to amend your active payout before the session where you want to make the split. Set the active payout within the app before returning your containers eg. Bank Account.

Scan your barcode, return your containers and click TRANSFER. This will then transfer your refund to your nominated bank account.

Then, if you’d like to donate some of your containers to charity, for example, open the app again, change the active payout to the campaign of your choice and repeat as above: Scan your barcode, return your containers and click TRANSFER.

This will then transfer your refund to the charity/campaign you’re supporting.

Unfortunately, our service provider requires you to have online banking to receive payment directly to your bank account from the app.

If you do not have online banking but would like to get your refunds transferred to your bank account, you can choose to set up online banking or you can link your bank account to a PayPal account and set your active payout as PayPal.

No. This payment type allows the refund to be transferred to a bank account, not to a card.

To claim your refund through PayPal, download the app.

Ensure you register for a PayPal account, if you haven’t already, and then link it to your account via the Payment Settings menu.

When you’re at the kiosk, scan your barcode before you return your containers to get your refund via PayPal.

Unfortunately, once a transaction has hit your PayPal account, your refund is considered to be paid out, and cannot go into an E-voucher.

To avoid accidentally sending money into your PayPal account, go into your Payment settings in the App and choose your preferred method.

You can contact our hotline on 1800 237 842.

Our dedicated team of customer service professionals will work with you to ensure that your refund is recognised.

You can receive your refund in 4 ways:

1- Donated directly to a charity or community organisation listed on the Reverse Vending Machine or the CDS Vic West App. 100% of the money you donate will go to your chosen charity.

2- A retail voucher or E-voucher which can be used to receive a discount on your groceries or redeemed for cash at the nominated redemption partner.

3- Directly transfer through your nominated bank account via the CDS Vic West App – which can be downloaded here.

4- Directly to your PayPal account via the CDS Vic West app, which can be paid into your bank account or used for online purchases. The app can be downloaded here.

The CDS Vic West app can be downloaded directly via the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or alternatively you can download it  here. 

To claim your refund through E-voucher, download the CDS Vic West app here. Sign in or register an account.

When you’re at the kiosk, scan your barcode before you return your containers to get your refund in E-vouchers.

Note: E-Vouchers are not available at sites where the redemption partner is an independent retailer. The redemption partner is listed on the digital screen in the middle of the Reverse Vending Machine kiosk.

Simply return your containers at a Reverse Vending Machine and select the “Voucher” option on screen at the end of your session. 

You can redeem your voucher refund at the redemption partner listed at the top of your voucher. If the redemption partner is an independent retailer, then the voucher must be redeemed at that location. If the redemption partner is Coles or Woolworths, your voucher can be redeemed state-wide.

The voucher is redeemable for cash or can be used for payment towards your shopping. It is not currently available for online purchases.

E-voucher is only available at Reverse Vending Machines that have Woolworths or Coles as the redemption partner.

If you use your app at an RVM that lists an IGA, Foodworks, or an independent store as the redemption partner, you will need to collect your refund via PayPal or Bank Transfer

Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) is a new initiative that provides a 10 cent refund to Victorians for every eligible drink container they return.

• It is part of important work that is transforming Victoria’s waste and recycling system.
• CDS Vic will provide shared benefits to the community, environment and economy by delivering:
• A cleaner, greener state
• 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

It’s easy to donate to a charity, school or community group. Simply return your containers at a Reverse Vending Machine and select the “Donate” option at the end of your session. You will then be given a menu to select which organisation you would like to donate to.

Select your preferred organisation and press the “Confirm” button to donate. Please note 100% of the money you donate will be given to the charity. Alternatively, choose from a selection of your favourite charities, schools or community groups via the CDS Vic West App.

Donation partners are selected based on a first come, first serve basis for applications that fulfil the eligibility criteria.

You can find out more on our Charity and Community page.

Organisations who want to become a donation partner with TOMRA Cleanaway are required to satisfy the eligibility criteria as outlined on the application form.

If your organisation is a school, sporting club, charity, or a not-for-profit community group and you satisfy the eligibility criteria you can apply to become a donation partner by completing the application form found on our Charity and Community page here and returning it with the supporting documentation to donations.vic@tomra.com