Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme is giving people a chance to turn their recycling into cash through the Win A Million Cents competition, which returns for a second year. 

The competition, from May 4 to June 14, offers five chances to win $10,000 cash – or ‘one million cents’ – simply by returning eligible drink containers through the scheme. 

Like last year, one of the five lucky winners will win a bonus $10,000 to donate to a registered Victoria Container Deposit Scheme, CDS Vic, charity, school, or community group of their choice. 

The competition rewards Victorians with one entry for every 50 eligible containers they return in a single transaction, whether they keep the refund or donate it to a CDS Vic charity partner.  

Last year’s winners returned containers in Geelong, Gippsland, Wodonga and Melbourne suburbs of Bayswater and Macleod, with the donation prize awarded to Our Haven Wildlife Shelter in Gippsland.  

When Our Haven’s Theresa Matthews received a phone call letting her know she had won $10,000, she was moved to tears.  

“It really meant the world to us because there’s lots of animals out there that need help, and it’s not always easy,” she said. 

“We have 25 joeys on bottles – it’s like having 25 babies.”  

Chief executive of scheme co-ordinator VicReturn, Matt Davis, said the Win A Million Cents competition rewarded Victorians for recycling while helping ease cost-of-living pressures. 

“Victorians are embracing CDS Vic not only to build a more sustainable future, but because it puts money back in their pockets. Those 10-cent refunds can quickly add up,” he said.

“At a time when households are looking for ways to stretch their budgets, the Win A Million Cents competition is a great incentive for even more people to get involved in CDS Vic.  

“This competition takes that a step further, with five chances to take home $10,000. 

“With cost-of-living pressures at front of mind for a lot of Victorians, the prize money could make a real difference.

“Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme is transforming the way we recycle, keeping billions of containers out of landfill while supporting families with everyday expenses like groceries and bills.”   To date, more than three-billion containers have been returned through CDS Vic, putting more than $300-million back into pockets of Victorians.  

The competition is open to Victorian residents only. 

Entry details, terms and conditions, and entry forms are available at winamillioncents.com.au.  

People can find their nearest CDS Vic refund point at cdsvic.org.au.

The entire May 6, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!