Dr Steven Miles
July 22, 2016
The Queensland State Government will introduce a container deposit scheme in 2018 to reduce litter and expand recycling.
Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said there was widespread industry and community support for a container deposit scheme.
“A 2015 NewsPoll showed 86 per cent of Queenslanders wanted a container deposit scheme,” Dr Miles said.
“South Australia has had a similar scheme since the 1970s, the Northern Territory introduced one in 2011 and New South Wales will introduce their scheme next year.
Dr Miles said the State Government has also entered into high-level talks with the NSW Government about setting up a single scheme administrator.
“We want a seamless system that’s good for the environment and friendly for business. No one wants an outcome where the rules that apply to a bottle of soft drink sold at Tweed Heads, are different to the one you buy at the Gold Coast”, Dr Miles said.
When the scheme is introduced, people will be able to take empty drink containers to a collection depot, or place them in a reverse vending machine, to receive a 10 cent refund.
Most drinks sold in containers between 150ml and three litres will be included in the deposit scheme.
“Plain milk, pure juice and wine containers are not included in the scheme,” Dr Miles said.
National Litter Index figures show that Queensland continues to be the most littered mainland state in Australia.
Recycling advocacy group Boomerang Alliance has welcomed the move.
“In Queensland we use over 2.4 billion bottles and cans every year,” Boomerang Alliance Queensland Manager Toby Hutcheon said.
“Most of these are wasted in landfill or littered. But in South Australia, which has a container deposit scheme, over 80 per cent of bottles and cans are recycled.
“Container deposit schemes operate in over 40 jurisdictions around the world. They are proven to slash litter rates, dramatically increase recycling, create hundreds of jobs in collection and re-processing and provide a financial boost to community organisations.”
