Tasmania’s container refund scheme has returned more than $11.8 million to residents in its first year, with 118 million drink containers recycled since the program launched on May 1 last year.
The Recycle Rewards scheme has given Tasmania the highest per-person return rate in the first year of any container refund scheme in Australia.
Tasmanians returned an average of 202 containers per person through the scheme’s network of reverse vending machines and depots.
Environment Minister Madeleine Ogilvie said the scheme had exceeded expectations.
“Recycle Rewards has been incredibly successful for Tasmania, not only because of the environmental benefits, but also by how enthusiastically Tasmanians have adopted the scheme,” she said.
“We have returned more eligible containers in the first year per capita in Tasmania than any other state or territory.”
Drink containers make up 45% of Tasmania’s litter, and every container returned through the scheme is diverted from landfill.
The environmental savings over 12 months include enough energy to power around 2,100 homes for a year, 750 million litres of water and 18,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
TasRecycle CEO Ken Roughley said every container returned made a difference.
“Every container returned is a positive choice to deliver a cleaner and stronger community today and into the future,” he said.
The scheme has also created more than 60 jobs, many through social enterprises that support people facing barriers to work.
Tasmanians have donated more than $310,000 to local charities and community groups through the program, including Guide Dogs Tasmania, the Country Women’s Association and OzHarvest.
Adam Reibel from the Rotary Club of North Hobart collects containers at North Hobart Oval on game days.
“These donations are helping Rotary clubs deliver for communities right across Tasmania,” Reibel said.
“Here in North Hobart, we’re making emergency accommodation shelters more welcoming and giving young Tasmanians leadership skills aboard the tall ship Windeward Bound.”
TOMRA Cleanaway general manager Corey Wingard said 85% of Tasmanians now have a refund point within 10 kilometres of their home.
“The recent launch of Cleanaway’s $5 million container sorting facility in Launceston further improves our network efficiency,” he said.
Of the 118 million containers returned, 57 million came from the south, 34 million from the north and 27 million from the north-west.
