Update April 2022:
In March 2022 the Tasmanian Parliament passed its Container Refund law. A last ditch effort by Coke to amend the Bill and stymie recycling and litter gains was successfully opposed. In April the government issued an EOI for the Scheme Coordinator and Network Operator. Operation will begin in 2023.
For more information on the Tasmanian Government plans: https://nre.tas.gov.au/environmental-management/container-refund-scheme
BACKGROUND:
Despite Tasmania’s pride in its pristine environment and relatively untouched wilderness areas, it was one of only two states in Australia in 2018 that had not committed to implementing a Container Deposit Scheme to reduce the amount of container litter escaping into the environment.
There was a growing problem with beverage containers in Tasmania, borne out by Clean Up Australia’s 2018 Rubbish Report. The report showed that beverage containers and ‘beverage rubbish’ made up 48.2% of the total litter surveyed in the 2018 Tasmanian count. And what’s more, containers and ‘beverage rubbish’, as a proportion of all rubbish reported, increased by more than 30% on 2017 figures. (View Clean Up Australia’s 2018 Tasmania snapshot report)
After nearly 15 years of contemplating a CDS, the Tasmanian Government funded yet another study in 2018, into the viability and format of a state-based scheme. Then in June 2019 the government announced a CDS will start by 2022.
In 2021 Tasmanian ALP were lobbied by TasRecycle lobby group (which was established and funded by Coke and Lion) and they call for an Upper House Enquiry in the Container Refund Bill. BA called this a monumental waste of time and lobbied against it into early 2022.
ACTION:
The next phase is to get the best possible scheme. Now you are getting a Container Deposit Scheme in Tasmania, contact the Environment Minister, Elise Archer and let her know you want the best system possible.
Below is an example letter that you can send to the Environment Minister for Tasmania.
The Hon Elise Archer MP
Minister for the Environment and Parks
Level 10, 15 Murray Street
HOBART TAS 7000
Date:
Dear Minister,
I support your decision to introduce a 10c refundable deposit on bottles and cans to clean up litter and increase recycling in Tasmania. I am glad the Tasmanian Government has moved forward, passed the Container Refund Bill and not given in to industry pressure which would have caused delays and created an inferior system.
I support a modern, efficient, convenient and low-cost container deposit system. The social and economic benefits include more jobs in local resource recovery and a new source of income for charities. The environmental benefits are enormous with less plastic and other pollution in our waterways, parks and roadsides.
The best way is for the scheme operators to have clear commitments to maximise recycling and consumer convenience. A scheme run by the beverage industry will be influenced by their focus on industry profits (for example keeping a large amount of unredeemed refunds) and lead to an inferior program.
I call on you to introduce a best practice 10c refundable deposit on bottles and cans in TASMANIA – to reduce the litter and increase the recycling of beverage containers.
Yours sincerely,
Print Name:
Address (including postcode):
To print this letter, click here.
This page was last updated on 19 April 2022