Recycling plan revealed
How container refund scheme will operate
TASMANIA’S long-awaited container deposit scheme will be run by private operators after the government rejected a “community-run” model being pushed by big beverage manufacturers.
Environment and Parks Minister Roger Jaensch said the government would introduce legislation to parliament this year and the scheme would be operating next year. People returning eligible drink containers will receive 10c for each.
Mr Jaensch said the scheme would be run by a co-ordinator to manage the finances and a network operator to run the refund points, which are expected to include “reverse vending machines” which will accept containers and issue refunds.
“There is still a great opportunity for the beverage industry to be involved in the running of the scheme,” he said.
“What we do want to do, though, is create a separation between those who are collecting the money that drives the scheme on the sale of those bottles and those who are driving the recycling aims of the scheme by collecting as many bottles as possible.
“We think the split scheme has the right incentives built into it, which means we are less reliant on government creating targets and policing and auditing the scheme because everyone’s trying to get the best for themselves, which will be the best for Tasmania: the most efficient scheme, and the maximum number of containers returned.”
TASRecycle, which had proposed an alternative model with greater involvement and revenue-sharing with community groups running collection points, said the decision had backed “a monopoly, highcost, for-profit model’’.
“This is a deeply disappointing decision which will lock community, sporting groups and small businesses out of the benefits of container recycling,” TASRecycle’s Ben Kearney said. “We are perplexed as to why the Minister ignored his own independent expert advice and instead adopted a scheme which will be higher cost, lock out community and sporting groups, and is likely to benefit a monopoly big business model over Tasmanian small businesses.’’
Greens waste and recycling spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff backed the plan and said the scheme was long overdue.
“A split model that separates the co-ordinating body for the refund scheme from the body that operates the network of recycling points is essential for prioritising the public’s best interest,” she said.
“Big corporations should have no place in controlling a state’s ability to recycle, and a split model is one important step to removing this obvious conflict of interest risk.”
The Local Government Association of Tasmania welcomed the choice of a splitgovernance model. The government has also released its draft Waste and Resource Recovery Bill for public consultation on Thursday, which will allow for the introduction of a waste levy in Tasmania.