Tasmania container deposit scheme: How Recycle Rewards program will work

Details of Tasmania’s long-awaited container deposit scheme have been revealed, with the state government explaining how the Recycle Rewards program will work.

Tasmania’s container deposit scheme will launch in 2025. Picture: Thinkstock

The state government has detailed how Tasmania’s long-awaited container refund scheme will operate ahead of its launch next year, giving people the ability to collect 10c for each drink container they return to designated depots.

The Liberals committed to implementing the program in 2019 and originally said it would be introduced by 2022.

Tasmania is the only state currently without a container refund scheme.

TasRecycle has been appointed as the scheme co-ordinator, while TOMRA Cleanaway will serve as the network operator, overseeing the 49 refund points that will be rolled out across the state.

Jo-Anne Fearman, City Mission CEO, Environment Minister Nick Duigan, James Dorney, CEO TOMRA Cleanaway, and Ben Kearney, chair of TasRecycle. Launching Recycle Rewards, Tasmania container deposit scheme. Picture: Supplied

Environment Minister Nick Duigan said about 50 per cent of litter in Tasmania was made up of drink containers and the new scheme, known as Recycle Rewards, would drastically reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

“We know that there are a number of groups in our community and individuals, of course, who are really eagerly awaiting this scheme rolling out … in the middle of next year,” he said.

Mr Duigan said a range of containers would be eligible for refunds, including beer cans, stubbies, plastic bottles, and flavoured milk cartons.

“In order for a refund to be given on a container, the barcode needs to be readable by these very high-tech machines, so don’t crush your cans,” he said.

“That’s a really important, critical part of this. The barcode needs to be eligible in order for you to receive the refund.”

TOMRA Cleanaway chief executive James Dorney said the vast majority of the 49 collection points would be automated and that social enterprises would help run five of these depots.

“It’s very, very simple to use. It’s as easy as walking up, you can use an app, or you can just get a voucher and then go and use that voucher to offset it against the cost of your groceries or get a cash refund at the redemption partner,” he said.

Ben Kearney, chair of TasRecycle, James Dorney, CEO TOMRA Cleanaway, Jo-Anne Fearman, City Mission CEO, Environment Minister Nick Duigan. Launching Recycle Rewards, Tasmania container deposit scheme. Picture: Supplied

“You can donate it to a charity if you so wish.”

Mr Dorney said TOMRA Cleanaway had begun “mobilising” the scheme ahead of its launch in 2025 and Tasmanians would soon start to see the collection points springing up across the island.

“They’ll be appearing, but not immediately … being able to be used, because it is a big effort to roll out a network of that many collection points. But the work starts now and we’ve got a number of months to get this up and ready to go for when the scheme starts,” he said.

Launceston City Mission CEO Jo-Anne Fearman said the organisation would be working with TasRecycle and TOMRA Cleanaway as a charity partner under the scheme.

“There’ll be systems in place for people to be able to nominate their preferred charity, and they’ll be able to then donate those refunds through to their preferred charity,” she said.