The Boomerang Alliance has today challenged the packaging industry to take full responsibility, implement effective collections and pay for the costs of soft plastic waste and pollution.

The Boomerang Alliance has today challenged the packaging industry to take full responsibility and pay for the costs of its waste and pollution decisions and urges the government to regulate the sector, with the release of its model guidelines for a best practice Product Stewardship Scheme for Packaging.

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.

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

Be a part of a broad and diverse coalition fighting for Cash for Containers in Victoria.

Hundreds of community groups, charities and non-profit organisations around Australia added their name to the Cash for Containers campaign and were instrumental in our success in NSW, Queensland and WA. Now it is Victoria's turn - sign on today to endorse the Cash for Containers campaign in Victoria and help make Australia litter free.

Our Cash for Containers model is based on the best examples in the world and has benefits for the entire community, economy and environment. Read more about our model here and the benefits for your organisation here.

Whether you’re a local neighbourhood group, a major environmental NGO, a student organisation, school, small business or any other type of group, we’d love your support. If you are not part of any organisation, you can still support us by signing up here. 

Letter of support

WE SUPPORT BOOMERANG ALLIANCE’S CASH FOR CONTAINER MODEL BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE SEVERAL BENEFITS FOR VICTORIA 

A 10-cent refundable container deposit scheme (cash for containers) will slash the amount of litter polluting our parks, streets, rivers and oceans. It will create jobs in recycling and provide valuable sources of income for charities, community groups and individuals interested in collecting cans and bottles.

We demand that Victoria acts now and adopts a container deposit scheme in line with what NSW started in December 2017, Queensland in November 2018 and which will commence in Western Australia early 2020. The time to act is NOW!

People just like you have built the Boomerang Alliance into a powerful force for change. Our efforts are making the difference that could save the environment for future generations to enjoy.

Sign up below to receive updates on our latest campaign actions, or volunteer with the Boomerang Alliance to help create the change we're working every day to achieve.