FOOTT chief executive Andrew Yeoland.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
More than three billion cans and bottles have been recycled through Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme since it began, with 84 million of those being processed by Shepparton recycling company FOOTT, across its four depots, pumping $8.4 million back into our local economies.
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FOOTT’s Shepparton depot landed in the second spot on the top-10 list of regional refund points, with 52 million containers recycled, just one million behind the first-placed Mildura depot.
But perhaps an even a bigger claim to container fame, FOOTT’s Shepparton depot ranked the fifth highest overall refund point out of all metropolitan and regional depots in the state, according to chief executive Andrew Yeoland.
“We’re obviously really pleased that the community has gotten behind the Container Deposit Scheme because one of the great things about the CDS scheme is that the money is staying here and remaining in the community,” he said.
“It also means that people care around here; they care that they’re recycling.”
Before the CDS launched in Victoria on November 1, 2023, drink containers were one of the most littered items.
More than $300 million has been refunded statewide from 600 deposit points, including reverse vending machines.
FOOTT’s four depots — Shepparton, Benalla, Yarrawonga and Cobram — gave an $8.4 million share of that back to individuals and groups within the towns.
“We see families, young kids bringing it in for their pocket money, seniors ... we have a lot of schools, Rotary clubs, Lions clubs, football clubs, netball clubs, different sporting clubs that are bringing the containers in, so that’s really pleasing to see,” Mr Yeoland said.
“I particularly love seeing the kids come in with their grandparents or parents who have been saving containers for six months and the look on their face when they see what they’re getting.”
Andrew Yeoland, Tracey Loughhead, Janelle Skinner, Mitch Grinter and Jackson Morgan at FOOTT’s Shepparton CDS depot in Carroll Rd.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Mr Yeoland encouraged community groups that hadn’t already, to leverage the scheme as a fundraiser.
A CDS app available for phones allows users to scan containers to determine if they’re refundable, set up their banking details for electronic refunds or nominate a listed charity to receive their refund.
On top of FOOTT’s four container recycling depots, it also manages the logistics of the CDS across northern Victoria, meaning the company collects containers from all deposit points from Mildura, across to Wodonga and back down to Shepparton.
Each bale ready for export consists of around 17,000 compacted containers and weighs around 300kg.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The third element of its involvement with the scheme is the processing of all those containers to prepare them for export, where they will be recycled into new similar products.
The scheme has created around 40 jobs within the FOOTT business and 600 within Victoria’s recycling industry.
And while more people are bringing in more containers — post-Easter this year, the Shepparton depot processed a record 145,000 containers in a single day — Mr Yeoland said staff were becoming more efficient and the equipment was already built to handle large capacities.
“We are at least 10 per cent up this year than we were this time last year, but we’re getting through them quicker,” he said.
“Early on, we invested in high-speed counting machines from Denmark.
“Western Europe had been working in CDS for quite some time, so we felt that the best was going to come out of there ... the machines can count 100 to 300 containers a minute.”
FOOTT’s Tracey Loughhead empties a bag of containers on to a container counting machine’s conveyor belt at the Shepparton depot.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Locally, Mr Yeoland said people wanting to avoid line-ups should aim to bring their containers in on the quietest days, which are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Tours of the depot for school and other interested groups can be arranged.
