A poll of Victorians has found there is overwhelming support for a return to a container deposit scheme – similar to the state’s long gone cash-for-cans system – to help tackle the state’s recycling crisis.

A container deposit system, embraced by every state other than Victoria and Tasmania, would be the most sensible way the Andrews government could respond to the crisis while reducing plastic pollution and creating jobs, a coalition of 47 environment groups argues.

Boomerang Alliance director Jeff Angel said a container deposit scheme – where people can claim a 10 cent refund on eligible containers – was a cleaner system than Victoria’s mixed kerbside collection scheme.

Environment groups have called on the Andrews government to bring back a cash-for-cans recycling scheme.

Excess contamination was the trigger for China’s ban early this year on imported recycled materials, which sparked the national crisis.