Queensland joins NSW, SA, and NT announcing its “cash for containers” scheme
This month, Queensland Environment Minister, Steven Miles, launched the state’s commitment to litter reduction by announcing the implementation of a Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) by 2018.
Pioneering the way, South Australia introduced Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) with the Beverage Container Act 1975 becoming operational in 1977 and was joined by NT in 2012. More recently NSW announced its scheme would be introduced in 2017 with the ACT considering the same path.
Australians purchase about 12.5 billion beverage containers a year. The Australian Food and Grocery Council estimates that this creates 1.32 million tonnes of packaging. Packaging has an environmental impact that is equal to approximately 10 – 15 per cent of the overall impact of the product on the environment.
Of that, on current estimates, almost 55 per cent is recovered and recycled. If a container deposit system was embraced Australia-wide, it is expected to lift that recovery rate over time to about 80 per cent. On current volumes, that means an extra 331,000 tonnes of glass, plastic, aluminium and other materials collected for recycling.
South Australia leads the nation in the litter reduction for recovery and recycle of beverage containers with an overall return rate of 76.5 per cent in the 2015 – 2016 period. That’s more than 582 million containers (43,165 tonnes). This sees a return of $58 million returned to the community during that time.
In South Australia alone the Scouts earn $2 million per year operating cash for container activity. According to CleanUp Australia, the community service sector will earn around $70 million a year to re-invest into local communities if we adopt this approach nationally.
And recycling more of these materials means reduced energy consumption and raw material use.
A Newspoll 2012 survey showed that over 80% of the Australian public support a container deposit scheme.
Queensland and NSW have made positive steps towards a national approach by announcing that their CDS would have the same administrator.
“Having a joint administrator was the most efficient approach.” Queensland's Environment Minister Steven Miles said.
"No one wants an outcome where the rules that apply to a bottle of soft drink sold at Tweed Heads, are different to the one you buy at the Gold Coast," he said.
The Waste Management Association (WMAA) described the move as "one more step toward a national approach to litter and resource recovery".
"The proposal for a seamless system, through one scheme administrator, can deliver a more effective outcome than two separate state bodies," said WMAA chief executive Martin Tolar.
"This is the start of a truly national approach to a CDS and sends a clear message to other jurisdictions who are yet to consider a CDS," he said.
Queensland and NSW will spend the next six months finalising arrangements before announcing the final details ready to operate from 2018.
Karl bamberger
2662 days ago
Sounds like a great way for kids to earn pocket money