Container refund schemes incentivise the return of used beverage containers in exchange for a refund. The collected containers must then be recycled to ensure materials have future use. These schemes are an example of ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ (often referred to as ‘polluter pays’) and are proven to both reduce public littering and improve recycling outcomes.
Tasmania’s container refund scheme will be called Recycle Rewards, and it’s two objectives – to reduce litter and increase recycling – will support the development of our circular economy.
Beverage containers make up 45 per cent of Tasmania’s litter. It is estimated that Recycle Rewards will reduce this by almost 50 per cent, as well as double recycling rates of eligible beverage containers.
Project Update – Sept 2024
TasRecycle Limited has been announced as Scheme Coordinator and TOMRA Cleanaway Tasmania will be Network Operator.
Once Recycle Rewards starts (mid 2025), people will receive a 10c refund for any eligible beverage container returned to a designated container refund point in Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Government’s model for the Scheme is a split responsibility involving a Scheme Coordinator to administer it, and a Network Operator to operate the network. There will be 49 container refund points available state-wide, making Recycle Rewards accessible for all Tasmanians.
With beverage containers making up to 45 per cent of Tasmania’s litter it is estimated Recycle Rewards will reduce this by almost 50 per cent, and double recycling rates of eligible containers which will reduce waste going into landfill and sustain the environment for future generations.
TasRecycle is a not-for-profit entity that was formed by Lion Pty Ltd, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Asahi Beverages to bid to become the Scheme Co-ordinator for the Tasmanian Container Refund Scheme. The partners have extensive experience in managing container refund schemes across Australia, with one or more of the companies involved in every Australian jurisdiction with a container refund scheme.