Container Deposit Schemes (CDS) operate or are about to be introduced in most States and Territories in Australia. South Australia has had a scheme in place since 1977, and only two states, Victoria and Tasmania, are yet to introduce a scheme. With Victoria losing the China market for its contaminated recyclate and needing to consider a CDS which produces clean material - will Tasmania be the last State to act?

Victoria has now committed to a Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) to start by 2023. It needs to be the best scheme maximising recycling; with great convenience for consumers who want to redeem their 10cents; and a credible governance system.   

The Boomerang Alliance has joined forces with Victorian community organisations and groups to push for action. The Victorian government originally was defending inaction on CDS with questionable statistics on litter and recycling rates. We took actions to dispel myths, raise awareness and presented the true cost of inaction. 

NSWs 'Earn and Return' has collected over 5 billion containers in 36 months and increased recycling rates from 35% to over 70% under its ''split responsibility'' model with the independent Coordinator and Network Operator. This is supported by the Victorian government for the state's CDS. 

QLDs 'Containers For Change' which operates under the system favoured by Coca Cola has significant problems with inconvenient refund points; alleged fraud; and lower recycling rates.  Nevertheless, Coke and Lion have embarked on a campaign to reverse the government's position because they can make a profit from a poorly performing CDS by keeping consumer refunds.

NOW we need to win the battle for a CDS that works best for consumers and recycling.

SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Sign this letter to Lily D'Ambrosio thanking her for the CDS and maintaining her government's support for the BEST system.

• Sign up to our campaign and join us in clean-ups, media stunts and other actions

• Donate to our campaign

HOW DOES A CONTAINER DEPOSIT SCHEME WORK?

A container deposit scheme is based on a refundable deposit able to be redeemed by the consumer or collectors at convenient locations. In other words, people get cash for recycling their containers. There are over 40 such systems around the world including in South Australia, the Northern Territory, the ACT, NSW and Queensland. WA, Tasmania and Vic are planning to follow suit in 2020, 2022 and 2023, respectively. Enregistrer

Enregistrer

I support a ban on lightweight, plastic shopping bags, including a ban on degradable and biodegradable bags, and support the Boomerang Alliance's position on these four questions:

1. What are the appropriate timeframes and transitional arrangements to implement a plastic bag ban in Queensland?

We want a ban to be implemented as soon as practical and certainly by 2018. A key feature prior to the introduction of a ban is an education program for both consumers AND retailers.

2. Do you agree that biodegradable bags should be included in a ban?

Yes. Degradable bags are designed to break into smaller pieces and are readily consumed by wildlife. Biodegradable bags decompose too slowly in the marine environment, and by  that time they have already done the damage. And because they are ‘biodegradable’ they tend to be littered more as consumers think that they are okay to discard.

3. Do you support the Queensland Government working with other states and territories to encourage industry to reduce the number of heavier weight plastic department store bags?

We need to reduce and eliminate all so called 'disposable' plastic items. They all end up in landfill, or are littered in the environment. Alternatives to thicker bags, such as consumers using their own bags, must be encouraged. The best way to do this is ban thicker bags or put a price on them.

4. What else can be done by the Queensland Government to address plastic pollution?

• The release of helium balloons should be banned.

• Other single use plastic items such as cups and plates, straws, plastic food ware etc. should be flagged for future action.

• Microplastic litter needs to be addressed through bans, take back schemes or alternatives.

• Plastic bait bags should be banned and the practice of using re-usable containers for bait encouraged.

I’m Laura Wells, I am a model and an environmentalist who cares deeply for the health and the future of our amazing planet. I’m excited to be an ambassador for the 36,000 person-strong Boomerang Alliance, and to tackle trash by your side.

Want to change the world and be paid for it? Apply now!

People just like you have built the Boomerang Alliance into a powerful force for change.

No matter what your skills we can use them to stop the tide of litter threatening our ecosystems.

Whether you help out in the office, on the street, at community events or from your own home, your efforts will make the difference that could save the environment for future generations to enjoy.

The Boomerang Alliance has disclosed  a leaked excerpt of an internal report to the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC) showing misleading plastic packaging recycling rates. The APC is an industry sponsored initiative which has been used by the beverage industry to counteract the push for cash for containers.