Bottle waste: a wasted opportunity

Communities, schools, sporting clubs and charities are missing out on millions of dollars because Victoria does not have a refundable recycling fee on drink containers. South Australia has a successful scheme based on a 5 cent refund for returned bottles which charities and groups collect, boosting the recycling market, creating jobs and helping the environment.

SA Scouts employ around 100 staff in a container recycling business turning over millions of dollars. Jenny Henty, Director of Environment Victoria’s Zero Waste Campaign says SA’s recycling rates are more than 80% while Victoria’s are around 50%. The landfill and litter problem with drink containers is spiralling out of control while ratepayers pay up to clean up!

There are no losers in the scheme so it is absurd that Victoria is missing out on such an opportunity, says Jenny. EV urges the Victorian Government and Australian industry to introduce a bottle deposit scheme.

Apparently big brand manufacturers oppose the scheme saying it undermines kerbside collecting but EV says half the waste comes from outside the home! Experiences in California and SA show a refundable deposit works.