Local club fundraising opportunity through new CDS partnership

Local football clubs across the state will be supported to raise funds and become more sustainable through a new partnership between AFL Victoria and Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic).

CDS Vic becomes the Official Recycling Partner of AFL Victoria until the end of 2027 and it kicked off with the inaugural CDS Vic Club of the Year award being presented at AFL Victoria's annual community awards on Friday night.

Alexandra Football Netball Club took the honours for its efforts which have raised more than $14,000 for the local club through the scheme.

 CDS Vic provides the opportunity for Victorians to return eligible drink containers for a 10 cent refund at more than 600 refund points across the state through zone operators Tomra Cleanaway, Visy and Return-It. Containers are then processed to make new items, reducing waste and working towards a circular economy. 

Victorian local footy clubs wanting to register as a donation partner can do so today via cdsvic.org.au/fundraising, which has the step-by-step guide for clubs to follow.  

With the option to either keep your 10c refund or donate it, footy clubs across the state are already raising funds through the scheme. This partnership aims to increase the profile of the scheme and help more clubs to benefit. 

Since launching on 1 November 2023, more than 900 million containers have been returned across the state – returning up to $90 million to Victorians, including more than 250 football clubs already participating as donation partners.      

CDS Vic is part of the Victorian Government’s $515 million investment to transform the state’s waste and recycling sector. Funded by contributions from the beverage industry, the scheme is contributing to Victoria's target of diverting 80 per cent of all material away from landfill by 2030 and represents a significant milestone in our journey towards a circular economy, which commits to reusing and regenerating materials and products. 

Through the partnership, CDS Vic and AFL Victoria will work to incentivise local football clubs which recycle, and in return, raise funds for their community clubs by onboarding Victoria’s 1,040 clubs as official donation partners.

Head of AFL Victoria, Greg Madigan, expressed his excitement to be partnering with CDS Vic to create a positive environmental impact whilst providing clubs with additional funding opportunities. 

“Local footy clubs are the heartbeat of communities across Victoria and any program that will help clubs raise funds while having a positive impact on the environment is great for the grassroots game, which is one of the reasons why the partnership with CDS Vic has so much potential.

“The process of recycling eligible containers in return for refunds is a fantastic opportunity for our local clubs and their communities. Having both a positive impact on the natural environment, as well as on the health and sustainability of their footy club is a great outcome.

“Many clubs are ready to jump in and join the charge diverting eligible containers from your club canteens or events into the Container Deposit Scheme. We look forward to supporting clubs right around the state in their fundraising efforts.”

VicReturn’s Acting CEO Megan Toose said the partnership will help the scheme to grow across metro and regional Victoria. 

"Footy clubs are like the glue in their local community so it makes sense to grow our scheme with AFL Victoria.

“We are already hearing from participating clubs that the scheme has been a boon for their fundraising efforts as well as diverting waste from their local landfill. I am excited to see what we can achieve together over the next three years.”

How local football clubs in Victoria can get involved and raise funds

Victorian local footy clubs wanting to register as a donation partner can do so today via cdsvic.org.au/fundraising, which has the step-by-step guide for clubs to follow.