Camperdown resident Brian Stewart is showing just how much change participating in Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme can make.

Brian has been an avid can collector for more than half his life. Every week, he rides his modified bike that has been fitted with a can-carrying trailer around the streets of Camperdown, scouring local sites for eligible drink containers.

Once his trailer is full, he stores his bounty in old wool bales before loading them into a ute and taken them to a reverse vending machine at Cooinda Terang.

“I’ve always collected cans,” Mr Steward said. “Good money in them – that’s probably underselling it.”

On the first day of putting cans through the scheme, he raised $400 thanks to the 10c refund on each eligible container.

Since then, in just the first 12 months the scheme has been operating, Brian has collected more than $10,000 in refunds – the product of more than 100,000 bottles and cans.

These refunds have been enough to help buy a new caravan. “This is can money,” Brian said, standing in front of his new purchase with pride.

Brian’s new to him caravan, purchased using funds from container returns.

The caravan’s maiden journey will be across to Yambuk, where Brian will enjoy some well-deserved feet-up time and fishing. In the meantime, locals can expect to see Brian out on his bike continuing his collecting. “Everyone in town knows me,” Mr Stewart said with a laugh.

Corangamite Residents Embracing CDS Vic

Residents across the Corangamite Shire have shown their enthusiastic support for Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, having returned more than 3.2 million eligible drink containers since the scheme commenced, resulting in more than $324,000 going back into the hip pockets of local residents and community groups.

Locals have 4 locations across the Shire to return their eligible drink containers for a 10c refund, including the location at Cooinda Terang where Brian has been returning his incredible collection of cans!

 

This story originally appeared in the ABC South West