Cash for cans plan a winner

Scouts and Guides ready for pick-up in funding

CONSERVATIONIST Vica Bailey says introducing a container refund scheme in the state is a “no-brainer” that will benefit the environment, community groups and wildlife.

Environment Minister Elise Archer on Thursday announced Tasmanians would likely be able to swap drinking containers for cash by 2022 after pledging to pull together an expert reference group that would help guide legislation to allow the initiative to begin.

Mr Bailey, who campaigned on the issue in the recent race for the Upper House seat of Nelson, said the “welcomed and long-awaited” scheme would deliver a win in the war on waste.

“Imagery of a dead quoll with its head stuck in a plastic bottle earlier this year shocked Tasmania and highlighted just one of the issues associated with public attitudes towards waste,” he said.

“Tasmania is one of only two states in Australia that is yet to introduce a container deposit scheme, despite evidence of its success in reducing waste and protecting the environment, increasing recycling and delivering an income to charities.

“The next step is for Tasmania to join an eastern seaboard cashfor-containers scheme, working with Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland to build on the benefits of a state container deposit scheme on the scale that comes with interstate collaboration.”

A report prepared for the Environment Protection Authority and released last year said a Tasmanian scheme should refund 10c per eligible container.

South Australia leads the nation in the recovery, recycling and litter reduction of drink containers with a current overall return rate of 78.1 per cent.

Scouts Tasmania Chief Commissioner Michael Hovington said Scout groups in SA had been able to almost halve their fees because of the financial return the successful scheme delivered.

“We’re sort of struggling at the moment with memberships and we would love to be able to welcome youth from lower socioeconomic backgrounds off the back of the money we would make,” Mr Hovington said.

Girl Guides state executive officer Mary Coulson said they too would get on board.

“All our operations are funded by memberships and an astronomical amount of hours are put in by volunteers,” she said.

“This scheme would assist with the cost of new programs and support the programs we already have in place.”