The Melbourne Stars are proud to welcome Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme VicReturn as an official partner of the club’s Team Green sustainability initiatives.
This three-year partnership comes as part of Green Sports Day 2025 and reaffirms the Stars’ commitment to reducing its environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices.
The Container Deposit Scheme is a recycling program that gives back to Victorians, the environment and community by providing a 10-cent refund for each eligible drink container returned. As part of the partnership, all refunds from the club’s collected containers will be donated to the Cricket Victoria Foundation, which funds programs to make cricket more accessible in the community.
Premier and grassroots cricket clubs will also benefit, by being provided the resources and support to sign up and redirect eligible 10-cent refunds back into their club.
With litter reduction at the forefront, the Container Deposit Scheme aims to significantly reduce the number of drink containers ending up as litter or in landfill.
The partnership will see Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme branding at Melbourne Stars home games, including LED and big screen at the MCG and CitiPower Centre.
Melbourne Stars General Manager Max Abbott welcomed the announcement and the impact the partnership will have on the Victorian cricket community.
“We are incredibly proud to partnering with Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme, which will increase our capability as a club to make a positive environmental impact in our community. This partnership has many positives for us; as not only are we playing our part in reducing waste that ends up in landfill, we will also be raising funds for community cricket while we are doing it.
“We will be encouraging our players, fans and staff to think about their habits when it comes to litter reduction. Small changes in behaviour can make a big impact.
“We look forward to working with VicReturn to promote the Container Deposit Scheme across our matchdays, as well as grassroots cricket to see 10-cent refunds going back to local cricket clubs”
Steve Dimopolous, Minister for the Environment said:
“Victorians have embraced the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) with more than 2.2 billion drink containers returned through CDS Vic to date.”
“This partnership will drive real change in our efforts in protecting the environment – reducing litter, boosting recycling and inspiring communities to take action for a cleaner, greener future.”
Marianne Doyle, interim CEO at VicReturn, CDS Vic scheme coordinator, said:
“Seeing the MCG lit up in green on Green Sports Day is a powerful reminder that when we return our containers, we’re all playing our part for a cleaner Victoria.
"This partnership between CDS Vic and Cricket Victoria builds on the Melbourne Stars’ proud ‘Team Green’ initiatives, celebrating the power of sport to inspire positive change. Together, we’re not only protecting the planet, but also giving local cricket clubs a simple, sustainable way to fundraise through the scheme.”
About Green Sports Day 2025 and How to Get Involved
Green Sports Day 2025 is SEA’s flagship annual initiative designed to support the sporting community in leading the way for environmental change. This year, SEA is partnering with Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) to embed sustainability across clubs, venues, and sporting organisations. Our primary goal is to drive tangible action: encouraging sport to reduce plastic waste, embrace circular economy principles, and foster cleaner, greener communities. Sporting clubs, stadiums, schools and community groups across Victoria are invited to take the Green Sports Day pledge - whether that’s by committing to CDS Vic collection, setting up container collection points, donating refunds, or finding other ways to engage their supporters in meaningful environmental stewardship.
To learn more about the scheme and find your nearest refund point visit www.cdsvic.org.au.