Many community organisations have benefited from the bottle and can refund scheme, raising many millions of dollars across Australia for charity and other public benefit purposes.  The refunds also help individuals who collect and return used drink containers, to cope with cost of living pressures.  

Imagine doubling the refund to 20c and the even greater benefits that will result! 

It would also increase the rate of community participation in the scheme, growing recycling and reducing litter, especially plastic pollution – combating erosion of the current 10cent incentive.   

Recent investigations have recognised that we need to increase the refund to ensure our container refund schemes not only maintain return rates, but grow them, to be more successful.  Did you know that the current national recovery rate is about 65%?  This is low by international standards and Australia can do much better.  We still litter and landfill over 4 billion drink bottles and cans, every year.

The Boomerang Alliance of 55 national, state and local environment NGOs campaigned for many years to get state and territory governments to introduce the refunds.  We have been discussing raising the refund with governments and while there is a recognition that it is an important measure – they still need to be convinced to act. We also expect the big drinks companies to oppose this move (just as they did to initially stop any refunds being introduced).

More detailed information on the proposal and benefits can be found here.

You can take action!

• Contact your local state MP 
• Ask your community, sporting or charity group to contact your local state MP and Environment Minister
• Urge the members of your group, friends and family to ring or write to your local state MP

Today’s meeting of the nation’s Environment Ministers has signalled urgent action will need to be taken by individual states in order to resolve regulation of packaging, especially soft plastics, battery waste and expanding container refund schemes, key environment groups said.

The soft plastics producers and retailers are gearing up to propose a product stewardship scheme. Some useful research was released at the National Soft Plastics Summit on 25 September including about the use of special kerbside collections for household soft plastics to replace the failed REDcycle scheme.

As NSW finally enters the lightweight plastic bag free-era tomorrow, environmental groups have called for the government to avoid delaying action on other polluting plastics.

After years of controversy about what can be safely flushed down the toilet; the damaging impacts on the sewerage system and environment; and failed court cases by the ACCC - a new standard* will sort this mess out.

The reasons the Tasmanian ALP have given for an Upper House inquiry into the Container Refund Scheme Bill, don’t stack up.

Most States and Territories in Australia having passed laws or proposed laws to reduce their single use plastics. Tasmania is one of the few exceptions.

Boomerang Alliance asked the three major parties about their policies on a container deposit scheme with a return rate above 90%, and their plans to ban certain takeaway single-use plastics.

The good news is that all parties support the introduction of a container refund scheme in 2022, although only the Greens would commit to setting a target for returns above 90% (Worlds Best Practice is 95%)

On curbing reducing problem single use plastics, all parties have promised to act, introduce a long-term plastics reduction plan, with the Greens the only party to specifically commit to introducing bans on problem plastics.

With the Commonwealth and all State/Territory Governments agreeing to phase out problematic and unnecessary single use plastics by 2025 (Meeting of Environment Ministers Communique 15 April 2021), we expect the next Tasmanian Parliament to catch up with the rest of Australia.

We look forward to a container refund scheme being introduced in 2022 AND Tasmania needs to ban problematic single-use plastics such as straws, cutlery and containers.

As the last mainland state in Australia to introduce a container deposit scheme (CDS), Victoria has an opportunity to make a real difference. The state’s future CDS could be the most efficient, effective and ethical in the country — but only if it is designed right.

Already operating in most states, Tasmania is planning to implement a Container Refund Scheme (CRS) - so it can choose the best type of CRS. We've learnt some lessons from the recent schemes in Queensland and New South Wales, particularly for the needs of urban and regional areas, refund point convenience, cost and charities.

Already operating in most states, Victoria is the last to take a Container Refund Scheme (CRS) on board, but that puts it in the position of being able to choose the best type of CRS. We've learnt some lessons from the recent schemes in Queensland and New South Wales, particularly for the needs of urban and regional areas, refund point convenience, cost and charities.

A Boomerang Alliance Backgrounder.

Out of the 907,401 tonnes of plastic packaging consumed in 2017-18, only around 32% was recycled, with only 14% recycled in Australia.^[1] As population grows plastic consumption will only increase, unless robust measures are put in place.

A Boomerang Alliance Backgrounder.

Most countries, including Australia, have recognised the threats posed by marine plastic litter. Estimates show that at current rates of littering there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 (by weight).^[1] In Australia, the CSIRO calculate that ‘two thirds of the marine debris found along our coastline is plastic, most from local sources.^’[2]

A Boomerang Alliance Backgrounder.

We produce too much waste and do too little recycling in Australia. A National Recycling Industry Development Program would reduce waste and litter; boost the economy and create jobs across the nation.

Today the NSW Container Deposit Legislation is being debated in the Parliament upper house – the final stage before it becomes law. In his speech, NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman proudly announced the government is on track to deliver a ‘cost-effective, best practice container deposit scheme' in accordance with Premier Baird’s promise - but it’s not.

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Are you aware that the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee is currently holding an inquiry into the Register of Environmental Organisations and will hold a public hearing in Sydney later in the year? The inquiry will determine whether organisations will be able to continue to receive tax-deductible donations to advocate for the protection of nature.