Wow! In less than 3 months over 100 million containers have been collected by Return and Earn!  And as we predicted they are finding markets because they are of high quality and not contaminated. 

Many will have seen the hyper-criticism by some media outlets of short term issues being experienced by the NSW container deposit scheme - but it's unjustified.

Yes there are issues like the slower than planned rollout of collection points.  However, every such scheme in the world has a ramp up period and it takes time for financially viable infrastructure to be put in place and for the community to adapt. We reject the hyper critical media commentators and some in the beverage industry who aren’t interested in a proven program being given time to sort out our serious recycling and litter problems.

New collection points are being opened every week and it’s very gratifying that the community wants more. As for the alleged consumer rip-off, the arrangements are no different to what occurs in South Australia - returns are projected; advance payment made by bottlers; and in the next quarter adjustments are made according to actual returns. Many bottlers then reduce their prices if there was overpayment. As the system settles in projections become more accurate. The initial agreed prices are to be reviewed after February.

The return rate for the first few months is close to what we predicted. It will gradually ramp up to about 80%. Return and Earn is a big, new program and NSW is the first state in Australia to bring in the modern, automated system that is necessary for our big cities and towns.  We are continuing to monitor the program and where necessary, suggesting improvements.

This is an important call to action. We need you to respond to the Victorian government's "Reducing Plastic Pollution" Discussion Paper. It won't take more than a few minutes.

The NSW Container Deposit Scheme (Return and Earn) started on 1 December.  It’s the first modern scheme in Australia (there are older systems in South Australia over 40 years ago and the NT in 2012).  Not surprisingly there are implementation issues we are learning about fast – lessons Qld and WA which are also introducing schemes are watching closely.

It was a hard fought and long battle to get the CDS up with the vast majority of the community confronting the beverage industry.  Even when Premier Mike Baird announced an election commitment in early 2015, the Advisory Committee set up soon after had to debate for a year whether we should have a deposit scheme because the Premier’s media release said the government would consider ‘better alternatives’.  There were none especially on environmental grounds as CDSs around the world are proven to massively reduce bottle and can litter.  And a recent benefit cost study by the EPA found a benefit of $1.33 for every $1 of cost.

Boomerang Alliance asked political parties in Queensland about their policies on plastic litter and waste reductions. With a plastic bag ban and container refund scheme already agreed upon by all parties and scheduled for introduction in July 2018, we were keen to know what each party proposed as the next steps to reduce single use plastics.

Our idea is for a Plastic Pollution Reduction Plan to identify and recommend solutions that will eliminate and reduce single use plastics. We were interested in addressing plastics use in the home and office, away from home, in commercial, industrial and agricultural settings and in the marine environment as a result of poor fishing practice and discards from vessels.

We also urged the immediate phase out of polystyrene takeaway products, and plans to phase out single use, non-biodegradable cups and food ware.

We also asked for support for a Waste levy in Queensland. Only the Greens have supported this, with the ALP wanting to wait on the current independent investigation on interstate waste transportation report-expected next month.

This is how the parties scored. We don’t endorse any political party but provide this as a guide to any Queensland voter concerned about plastic waste and litter.

Read Labor's response HERE

Read the Greens Response HERE

Authorised by Jeff Angel, Director, Boomerang Alliance, 99 Devonshire St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010

Have you heard the news? Yesterday Premier Daniel Andrews announced that Victoria will ban single-use lightweight plastic bags. Thank you so much for supporting our campaign, this is your win!

We have some exciting news !! 

Yesterday Premier Mark McGowan announced that Western Australia will ban plastic bags from July 2018. A time frame has also been given for Western Australia’s Container Deposit Scheme on bottle and cans. It is expected to start on 1 January 2019. 

It's been called The Toxic Tide

In 2017, the UN Environment Programme acknowledged the growing body of research highlighting Marine Plastic Pollution as a significant problem on a global scale. It has widescale economic, social and environmental impacts. Business, government and the community need to find solutions and Boomerang Alliance was at the vanguard of that movement, as always...

Australia's first Conference focused on reducing Marine Plastic Pollution in the Asia-Pacific region - Beyond Plastic Pollution: Pathways to Cleaner Oceans - took place at Darling Harbour in Sydney from October 30th to November 1st 2017. Bringing together business, government, science, academia and community, Beyond Plastic Pollution sought new pathways to cleaner oceans learning about the latest research, testing the best solutions and encouraging diverse interests to work together.

The conference was also a collaboration with The Plasticity Forum, which presented Plasticity Sydney on Tuesday, October 31st.

Covering global best practice regulations on circular economy models, techniques for reducing plastic footprints in business and industry, new technologies and alternative materials and strategies to drive a plastic-free pathway at the community level, delegates were presented with a broad overview of the issue and the solutions that are emerging across the world, from leading advocates and stakeholders heavily involved in the task of reducing plastic inputs into the environment. 

Speakers included the UN Environment Program; International, Commonwealth and State Environment Ministers, senior figures from local government, captains of industry, highly respected contributors from the scientific and academic communities and influential environmental advocates, combining to deliver a richly informative and highly diverse programme which included keynotes, panel discussions, practical workshops, real-world case studies, an innovation showcase.  

After two and a half days of intense discussion on how to address the issue, the audience went away invigorated to keep up the fight to address the issue of marine plastic pollution and the results have been dramatic.  We continue to see inroads being made on a daily basis, but Boomerang Alliance believes that everyone can do more, so we will continue working to drive better outcomes for our oceans and marine life.  

We are currently planning the next conference, so watch this space for more details and if you are interested in working with us to deliver another inspirational event, please get in touch - you can email us with your thoughts, ideas or comments at [email protected]

We welcome today the unanimous passage of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Bill through the Queensland Parliament. The bill confirms a Plastic Bag Ban and Container Refund Scheme will be introduced into Queensland in July 2018.

The Plastic Bag Ban and Container Refund Scheme are the most significant litter and plastic pollution reduction measures introduced into Queensland in generations. As long as all retailers comply with the ban and a Worlds Best Practice Container scheme is introduced, we expect litter and plastic pollution could be halved.

With the introduction of these measures in July 2018, we are also urging the next state government to develop a 'Plastic Reduction Plan' for Queensland to address the other single use, disposable plastics that regularly litter and pollute our environment. Queensland is identified as a hotspot for marine debris, in particular plastics. Many communities are now taking action to reduce their plastic footprint and are looking to the next government to support their efforts.

Photo: Ms Palaszczuk says operators will be forced to comply with dumping regulations. (ABC News: Ashleigh Stevenson)

The Boomerang Alliance is calling for three urgent reforms following revelations in Monday night’s 4Corners program on the waste and recycling industry.

The combination of the absence of support for recycled content in products and slack enforcement by regulators and no landfill levy in Queensland is threatening the crucial environmental and economic gains from recycling.

Firstly, environment ministers and regulators need to be far more effective in the use of their enforcement powers.NSW in particular moves too slowly and appears to tolerate shoddy practices for far too long.  They allow cheap dumpers to push legitimate recyclers out of the market, and this prevents the rapid transition to reuse of resources and results in lost opportunities to create jobs and environment protection. NSW has the legal powers and the Minister should order an urgent review of how they are being applied. 

Secondly it is essential that government and business require recycled content in their purchasing contracts for roads, construction materials, packaging and other items.  Australia could be far more self-sufficient in resources and have a bigger manufacturing sector if we had a stronger domestic market for recyclables.  There would for example, be a larger market for recycled glass in roadworks and construction sand.

Of note is that container deposit schemes will improve the quality of glass drink bottles in the recycling stream and open up more conversion back into bottles.  Victoria is the stand out state that is ignoring this proven program.

Thirdly, Queensland must act to stop it being the dumping ground for waste from other states.  The Newman government created an environmental disaster by removing environment protection laws and the landfill levy.  Both parties in Queensland should recognise the ongoing damage and fix it.

We will keep you posted.