TOMRA Cleanaway congratulates the Wingate Avenue Community Centre on reaching an incredible milestone: collecting over 2 million eligible containers for refund and more than $200,000 through the Victorian Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic).
“Wingate Avenue CC’s efforts show what’s possible when a community gets behind the container refund scheme,” said James Dorney, CEO of TOMRA Cleanaway. “Every bottle and can is kept out of landfill and turned into funding for local people and programs. It’s a win for people and the planet.”
The program began soon after CDS Vic launched in November 2023, when TOMREA Cleanaway assisted the Wingate Avenue CC to become an over-the-counter (OTC) collection point. At first, general manager Angeline Courtenay was unsure whether the centre had the staff or the space to make it work.
“Steve from TOMRA Cleanaway and I worked together to find a storage space, set up efficient pickups and promote the over-the-counter collection point,” Angeline Courtenay, general manager of the Wingate Avenue Community Centre.
“We started with a small roster of staff and just two volunteers but demand grew so quickly that now we have a paid team of locals running the counter and sorting
area.”
Funds raised through the Container Deposit Scheme Vic have gone right back into the community, helping Wingate Avenue CC employ locals who have recently migrated to Australia or who need support to enter and re-enter the workforce.
“I love meeting families with the bags of containers they’ve collected together,” said Hoodo Elmi, a Wingate Avenue CC Over the Counter return point employee. “They’re cleaning up the neighbourhood and helping the centre community at the same time.”
“Every bottle and can my daughter and I bring to the Wingate Avenue CC goes straight into a savings account for my grandson, we’ve raised $1,600 just by making deposits,” said Peter Spence, local and community centre regular.
“But it’s more than the money. The centre is such a wonderful resource to our community, everyone is friendly, welcoming and supportive. Coming to the overthe-counter refund point has become a social outing for us, you have a chat, share a luaght and walk away feeling good about what you’ve done.
Here’s how you can help Wingate Avenue CC reach 3 million containers!
• Bring your eligible containers to the Wingate Ave Community Centre over-the-counter return point in Ascot Vale
• Choose Wingate Avenue Community Centre as your donations partner via the CDS Vic West Zone app
• If you see members of the Wingate Community in your street collecting containers
• Spread the word!
Find your nearest return location here: https://cdsvic.org.au/locations
