With summer on its way, we’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Cricket Victoria and the Melbourne Stars.
This three-year partnership comes as part of Green Sports Day 2025 and reaffirms the Melbourne Stars’ commitment to reducing its environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices.
Victorian 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.
Through the multifaceted partnership, CDS Vic will become a Major Partner of Victoria’s Sheffield Shield Team, while aligning with the State’s Premier Cricket competition as an official partner. The partnership will also see scheme branding at Melbourne Stars home matches, 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 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.”
The Cricket Victoria Foundation will also be a beneficiary of this partnership, with refunds from eligible drink containers collected at the CitiPower Centre to be donated to support local community and wellbeing outcomes through the Foundation.
Cricket Victoria CEO Nick Cummins praised CDS Vic’s commitment to Victorian Cricket.
“We look forward to working with Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme to promote drink container collection across all events held at CitiPower Centre, our Premier Cricket competition and community cricket clubs.”
“Through CDS Vic, our Community Managers at Cricket Victoria will be engaging with community cricket clubs, providing the tools and resources to register their club and help reach their fundraising goals.”
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, added:
“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 Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme 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
Green Sports Day 2025 is the Sports Environment Alliance’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. The 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.
Learn more:
• Teaming up with Sports Environment Alliance
• Top Carlton players team up with CDS Vic
• How to donate your refund
