Young Victorians have had the opportunity to share why recycling matters to them, thanks to Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme. At Scienceworks in Spotswood, an installation showing the life cycle of a plastic water bottle will be on display until 27 January.
Called Message in a Bottle, the installation was created in celebration of CDS Vic’s first birthday. As well as demonstrating the recycling process, it includes messages from school kids sharing why recycling matters to them.
On launch day, Anastasia, a student at Brighton Beach Primary School, said that getting involved in recycling was both fun and important.
“It’s a really great opportunity to fix everything we did wrong in the past with the environment,” she said. “You get a bit of money out of [returning containers] but you’re also doing something great for the environment.”
This was just the kind of impact Museums Victoria CEO and Director Lynley Crosswell was hoping the installation would have.
“[Message in a Bottle] is set to encourage and empower the next generation to become real pioneers in building a cleaner future,” she said.
VicReturn CEO Jim Round said it was all about minimising waste.
“We want to start those behaviours young,” he said. “We want to see them understanding what you need to do with recycling and collecting their bottles and cans and taking them back so the journey can start again.”
State Minister for the Environment Steve Dimopoulos was also on hand to celebrate.
“Part of what we’re doing here is teaching people the importance of the circular economy and how you can be a part of that. It always starts with young people,” he said.
“Some of those messages are really beautiful in their simplicity and their honesty.”
Keen to come get involved?
- The Message in a Bottle installation runs until 27 January and is included in your Scienceworks entry.
- Bring your eligible containers with you! There is a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) in the Scienceworks carpark.
