A scheme co-ordinator and network operator have been appointed by the Tasmanian Government for the new Tasmanian container refund scheme, Recycle Rewards.
The scheme, anticipated to arrive mid-2025, will be co-ordinated by TasRecycle and operated by TOMRA Cleanaway. This is the third jurisdiction where TOMRA Cleanaway will manage network operations for container refund schemes in Australia, leveraging its experience from the New South Wales and Victorian schemes.
Tasmania is the final piece of the container refund scheme puzzle in Australia, with all states and territories now legislating extended producer responsibility for single use drink containers.
In states and territories with a container refund scheme, consumers pay a returnable ten-cent deposit for each eligible container purchased. This creates an incentive to return the containers, giving them the best possible chance of being recycled into a new container.
TasRecycle is a not-for-profit entity comprising Asahi Beverages, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) and Lion, with each having significant experience in managing container refund schemes across Australia.
Ben Kearney, Chair, TasRecycle, said the members look forward to supporting Tasmania’s environmental goals and the thousands of local community organisations, households and businesses who will benefit from the introduction of a successful container refund scheme.
As scheme co-ordinator, TasRecycle will be responsible for managing the marketing, running the financial operations, and ensuring the smooth operation of Tasmania’s container refund scheme.
Commenting on the planned mobilisation of the Recycle Rewards scheme, James Dorney, Chief Executive Officer TOMRA Cleanaway, acknowledged there is hard work ahead to deploy a network of refund points, and accompanying logistics and material handling facilities.
“From mid-2025, the Tasmanian people will have a world-class scheme, with easy and convenient access to returning eligible drink containers. We are building our team to deliver an exceptional outcome for the people of Tasmania.”
Tasmania’s population is currently just over 550,000 people, all of whom will be called up to recycle their eligible drink containers through one of the 49 refund points across the state.
TOMRA Cleanaway has seen incredible results with the schemes in New South Wales and Victoria, where refunds are being used to supplement income, help pay for holidays and events, or teach children about savings. Many individuals and groups are generously donating their refunds or containers to charities and groups to help them do the important work that they do in their local communities.
One of the features of TOMRA Cleanaway’s network will be the conveniently located Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) that use world-leading TOMRA technology to scan and verify each container as it enters the scheme.
“These self-service drink container return points have proved very popular in other states and are sure to be an outstanding feature of Recycle Rewards in Tasmania,” Dorney said.
TOMRA Cleanaway works with key stakeholders to identify locations that will make it easy for residents to cash in their eligible single use drink cans and bottles, with a range of deposit refund options for consumers.
One of the primary goals of TOMRA Cleanaway is to educate Tasmanians on the important social, economic and environmental benefits of the container refund scheme.
Environmental benefits are one of the underpinning elements of all container refund schemes, with TOMRA Cleanaway committed to recycling of all materials collected through its network of refund points. That means much of the collected plastics, aluminium and glass will be destined for high value, food grade quality recycling.
Orlando Rodriguez, Managing Director, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Australia said CCEP is determined to be a leader in Australia’s circular economy.
“By designing packaging to maximise recycled content, playing a leadership role in every running container refund scheme and investing in local recycling infrastructure, we are proud to help create a closed loop system where bottles have the best possible chance of becoming a new one,” Rodriguez said.
“Nationally, 60 per cent of post-consumer goods plastic is recycled through container refund schemes, compared to a headline national plastics rate of 18 per cent. Container refund schemes play a critical role in reducing waste going to landfill.
“Together with our partners, we look forward to working closely with the Tasmanian Government to ensure the scheme is a success.”
James Brindley, Managing Director Lion Australia, said the company was committed to a long-term Force For Good strategy, and involvement in bringing a Container Deposit Scheme to Tasmania is further progress against this strategy.
There will be 49 container refund points available across Tasmania, making Recycle Rewards accessible for all Tasmanians.
For more information, visit: https://nre.tas.gov.au/environment/recycle-rewards
Related stories:
Behind the scenes of TOMRA Cleanaway’s container deposit scheme
Victoria’s CDS hits half a billion container deposits