Unfortunately, reusables took a nosedive in 2020.  This was largely due to a myth that BYO cups and containers spread coronavirus - there is no evidence for this. In 2021, we want to show that reuse is possible and more cost-beneficial than single-use to businesses and our communities.

In January we worked with nine amazing cafes in Cairns, Townsville, Byron and Perth to supercharge and normalise the number of customers using reusables, culminating in #UseYourOwnCupDay on Friday 29 Jan.

Each week, these cafe's tallied how many of their customers used reusable cups, with the goal to see the percentage of reusables increase each week as their awesome customers started to form the new habit of reuse.

On ‘Use Your Own Cup Day’ we worked with them towards achieving the highest number reusable cups possible, which for some meant no takeaway coffees in single-use cups.

THE RESULTS

There was a marked increase in the use of reusables for ALL cafes involved.

Plastic Free Cairns with @blackbirdwarehouse

The % of customers who had their drink in a reusable cup (includes dine-in figures):

1. In week one, 55% of cups used at Blackbird were reusables.
2. In week two, 56% were reusables.
3. In week three, 63% were reusables.

On ‘Use your own cup day’, 73% of customers used their own cup, borrowed a reusable cup or dined in.

Plastic Free Townsville

Increase in the number of reusable cups used, by comparing the last week of the campaign to the first:

• 75% increase for @specialty_coffee_trader.
• 45% increase for @shaka.goodfoodculture.
• 48% increase for @thequarterstsv, who are always well-supported with reusables.
• 34% increase for @thecoffeetreetsvcollective.
• 47% increase for @kdsvegantakeaway, who do not serve coffee, instead participating by encouraging customers to BYO containers.
• More regulars remembering their reusable cups at @tashasplace_tsv (no data recorded).

WA Plastic Free with @sondercoffeeperth

The % of customers who brought their own cup (excludes dine-in figures):

1. In week one, 17.5% of customers.
2. In week two, 20.3% of customers.
3. In week three, 2% of customers.

On ‘Use your own cup day’, 100% of customers used their own cup or dined in.

Plastic Free Byron with @buncoffee

Whilst data was not gathered, Bun reported that a number of regular customers have made the switch across to reusables cups, eliminating their daily single-use habit. Not only this, but the number of customers bringing along their own jars when purchasing Bun’s on-site roasted coffee beans increased. Follow up from the campaign suggested very positive results amongst the community, with many more daily regulars converting from single-use to reusables as a consequence of the increased attention to this issue.

MOVING FORWARD

We’ve been so blown away by the feedback, we’ll also be soon be offering the program to all of our PFP member cafes and are also developing a toolkit so cafes across Australia can follow suit. This will be available soon on our website www.plasticfreeplaces.org.

Back to March 2021 Newsletter page >>

Container Deposits – Coke up to its old tricks

As Victoria and Tasmania move to implement container deposit systems (CDS) Coke and Lion have been pouring money into a campaign to get the design they want.  It’s based on the inconvenient setup in Qld which means beverage companies get to keep unredeemed consumer refunds increasing their profits, compared to the NSW approach.  The scale of misinformation propagated by Coke and Lion is staggering.  They have misled some charities and recruited them to their cause.

Nevertheless the Tasmanian government has outright rejected their position with the Environment Minister supporting to the NSW design, “The chosen model, a split responsibility Container Refund Scheme, will bring together the beverage industry and the waste and recycling sectors to deliver the best scheme for Tasmania. The split responsibility model, which is already operating in NSW and ACT and being developed in Victoria, involves a Scheme Coordinator who will run the administration and finance for the scheme, while a separate Network Operator runs the network of Refund Points.’’

In a late manoeuvre the CEO of Coca Cola Amatil indicated they would now support this model.  The state is now preparing legislation and will call for tenders for the two key managing entities.

Victoria will soon move to the next stages.  However despite the Tas concession, Coke and Lion are still funding full page adverts and lobbying local councils and charities for their alternative. We are responding vigorously.  Already over 50 groups have shown support and more than 51,000 people have signed our change.org petition.

Back to March 2021 Newsletter page >>

The Victorian Government is about to begin final planning for  the state’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS). The big beverage polluters – Coke and Lion are campaigning to take over the scheme.  We are at a critical moment that’ll determine the fate of the state’s waste and litter problem. 

The bottlers dominate Queensland’s CDS and as a result, it’s a very inefficient program riddled with problems including restricted hours of operation and limited and many inadequate collection points failing to support our communities, recycling and the environment.

The result? Unclaimed consumer refunds are being kept by the beverage companies; and higher costs to the consumer.

We need your help to let the Victorian government know that this is an unacceptable model.

A short email (see below) to key MPs' could make the different. Let the Victorian government know that our community expects a CDS that effectively tackles that state’s waste and litter crisis.

SEND A MESSAGE TO KEY MPs

You can edit the email subject and add/amend the message. It's best to adapt our template to include your own words and ideas. Personalised letters are always more persuasive. Briefly introduce yourself by sharing a sentence about who you are and why you care. Your own views and experiences are powerful talking points. Giving your residential address in your signature will also add to your credibility but this is not compulsory.

This message will be sent to: 

Thank you so much for taking the time to email the Premier, Ministers and key MPs in support of the Split Responsibility Model for Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme, it really makes a difference! Please share the page with your friends and family, we need as many voices as possible.

https://www.boomerangalliance.org.au/deciding_moment_stop_the_biggest_plastic_polluters_from_controlling_victoria_s_litter_solution

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

JOIN over 50,000 Victorians who've already signed the petition opposing CDS management by large beverage companies.

UPDATE: 14 April 2021

GREAT NEWS: Victoria announces ‘Split Responsibility Model’ Container Deposit Scheme

We did it!!!

We are thrilled to inform you that the Victorian government has today confirmed their choice of a “split responsibility” Container Deposit Scheme.

They’ve listened to the community and rejected the disinformation campaign by the big bottlers, Coke and Lion and their lobby group VicRecyle.

Our research into the various types of schemes here in Australia and overseas shows that the chosen ‘’split responsibility’’ model (Coordinator and Network Operators) is best practise.

It sets up the right allocation of responsibilities so that the system can grow, be accountable, accessible and deliver multiple benefits for decades. It’s based on the NSW approach where there has been very significant involvement of charities and small businesses; billions of drink containers returned; and very accessible refund points.

We’ve been campaigning for Australia to be entirely covered by container deposit schemes and today’s announcement fully achieves this. In fact Australia is the first continent on the planet to do this. There will be remarkable environmental, employment, recycling and charity benefits.

Today’s announcement is the result of an incredible community effort with 117 organisations signing our open letter and over 51 000 Victorians signing our petition in support of a split responsibly model.

A big thank you - this would not have happened without your ongoing support!

Hundreds of community groups, charities and non profit organisations around Victoria have added their name to the 'Cash for Containers' campaign and were instrumental in obtaining our Government's commitment to introducing a Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) in 2023.

The Victorian Government is now deciding on the CDS model – a crucial step that will determine how effective our CDS will be. We must choose a model that minimises litter and maximises benefits for Victoria.

Sign on today to endorse the most effective CDS model and help make Victoria litter free.

Based on global best practice and lessons learned in other states, we are pushing for a 'split responsibility model'. This model has benefits for the entire community, economy and environment. Read more about our preferred model and its advantages and download the fact sheet.

Whether you are a local community group, a student organisation, a school, a major environmental NGO, a small business, sporting club or any other group, we need your support to ensure an effective CDS.

We have drafted the following open letter. Adding your 'signature' is easy! Simply fill in the endorsement form on the right to let us know you want a best practice model. You are also welcome to submit your logo on the form.

Not part of any organisation? You can still support us and join 50,000 other Victorians by signing our Change.org petition.

*Note - Your organisation's name and logo will only be displayed on materials associated with this open letter and not be used for other purposes without prior consent. By signing the endorsement, you agree to receive future campaign updates from Boomerang Alliance.

We, the undersigned, urge you to implement a best practice Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) model that will successfully address Victoria's waste and litter problem. Specifically, we support that this is designed along the lines of the proposed 'Split Responsibility CDS Model'.

Victoria will be the last state to introduce a CDS. This puts Victoria in an enviable position to be able to learn from others and choose best practice. The split responsibility model has proven to be the most effective in growing recycling and slashing the amount of container litter polluting parks, streets, rivers and oceans.

Split models have also proven to provide maximum convenience and equal access for community members, create more jobs in recycling and provide valuable sources of income for charities, community groups and individuals interested in collecting cans and bottles.

Once established, new infrastructure and management is hard to change, so it’s best to get the fundamentals right at the start.

Over 50,000 Victorians have already signed the petition opposing CDS management by large beverage companies.

Our organisations are joining the Victorian community in supporting the adoption of an effective split responsibility model.

Stand up for the top scheme, not the one corporations want, says Jeff Angel.

The operator of the Qld 10c Refund Scheme for drink bottles and cans Container Exchange, is being sued for up to $19.5million, according to its recent Annual Financial Report.

Where does plastic recycling stand in Australia now? Have we become complacent during the days and months of Covid? Are we merely wasting our time sorting out the bins, or is the cause worth making a little extra effort? Indira Naidoo from ABC Nightlife discussed plastic waste and recycling with Amy Westnedge from Wastewise on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and Jeff Angel, the Boomerang Alliance director.

Many supporters contact Boomerang Alliance at this time of year seeking green ideas for Christmas. This year we have put our focus on gifts that can help you, your family and friends go plastic-free. We've chosen small, less expensive gifts  that help avoid single-use plastics when shopping, buying takeaway, at home or out-and-about.

Check out our plastic-free gift guide that features our top ten gift picks.

Thank you for sending a message to the Environment Minister to act now on plastic pollution. Your support is very much appreciated and it makes a difference!

UPDATE - 3 May 2021

Download the Boomerang Alliance submission to the NSW Greens Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Amendment (Plastic Reduction) Bill 2021

WAKE UP NSW GOVT – WE HAVE A PLASTIC PROBLEM!

South Australia has passed a law banning polluting single use plastic items; so too Queensland and the ACT; and WA and Victoria have announced plans to act.  Why not NSW?

As the biggest state we produce a lot of plastic litter that reaches the ocean, killing and harming marine life and poisoning the food chain; and contaminating the land and air.  Tens of thousands of tonnes are also dumped in landfill. NSW released a ‘’discussion paper’’ over a year ago full of good ideas – but still no action.  Just like its ongoing failure to ban lightweight plastic bags! (every other state has banned them).

Boomerang Alliance has submitted a comprehensive policy to the Environment Minister that will lead to a major drop in plastic pollution and grow recycling.

But we need to break through the inertia in the NSW Government. 

We need it to take concrete action, NOW.  And we need your help.

• By signing the letter below to the Premier & Environment Minister, your voice will heard.
  
  
• Use the images below to share this page on your social media (right click and save image)
  
     

It’s going to take a big push and if you can, please make a generous donation.

SEND A MESSAGE TO THE PREMIER & ENVIRONMENT MINISTER

You can edit the email subject and add/amend the message. Your email will be sent directly to The Hon. Matt Kean and NSW Premier.

Thank you so much for taking the time to email the key MPs in support of the Waste and Recycling Bill 2020, it will make a difference! Please share with your friends and family, we need as many voices as possible.

https://www.boomerangalliance.org.au/recycling_and_waste_bill_2020_campaign

This year’s final session of Parliament is voting on a new law to stop the export of waste and enact better product stewardship laws. It's a big opportunity to tackle packaging and single use plastics (*background information below).

We need your help to make the new law, which will be debated in the Senate on 9 November, effective. A short email (see below) to key MPs could make the difference.

SEND A MESSAGE TO KEY MPs

You can edit the email subject and add/amend the message. Your email will be sent directly to:

• Hon Trevor Evans MP
• Mr Josh Wilson MP
• Senator Peter Whish-Wilson
• Donald Bundesen
• Senator Rex Patrick
• Senator Stirling Griff
• Senator Jacqui Lambie

Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission to these important bills. They have the potential to bring Australia’s treatment of waste into a new era of recycling and build towards the circular economy. We particularly welcome clause 4 that embeds the precautionary approach in relation to protecting human and environmental health.

With South Australia, the first state to ban key single-use plastic items such as straws, cutlery and beverage stirrers - it’s now urgent other states also move on this plastic pollution, the Boomerang Alliance of 52 groups said today.