In Western Australia, we have the lowest rate of recycling of any Australian state, however by placing a 10-cent recycling refund on bottles and cans, the State Government can lift recycling rates almost overnight.
Where around 20% of drink containers are recycled in WA, this figure is closer to 80% in South Australia due to their 10-cent recycling refund scheme.
Polling shows that over 90% of Western Australians support a Recycling Refund Scheme. Local Governments also strongly support a 10-cent deposit on beverage containers because it will increase the efficiency of kerbside recycling and reduce cleanup costs for litter.
To date, big beverage companies including Coke and Fosters have worked to prevent a recycling refund scheme from being put in place in WA and many other parts of the world. These companies employ lobbyists and use other tactics to avoid taking responsibility for the waste they produce.
South Australia has had a recycing refund scheme in place for many years, and their network of container drop-off centres also act as a collection system for many other recyclable materials including scrap metal and electronic waste. Not suprisingly, South Australia is home to most of Australia's material reprocessors, who take the empty beverage containers and recycle them or turn them into other useful products.
The Northern Territory Government has also introduced a recycing refund scheme in January 2012.
Many other countries around the world have successful recycling refund programs, with many using 'reverse vending machines' in shopping centres and public places as a convenient way for people to claim their deposits when they recycle.
Take action here for a Recycling Refund Scheme in WA!
How does it work?
The central principle of this scheme is that consumers pay a small deposit which is refunded when their empties are returned to a collection depot. By having a cash value, the glass or plastic bottle, can or cardboard carton is no longer seen as just rubbish. Even discarded empties are likely to be collected by somebody else to reclaim its value. Multiply such small acts many thousands of times, and think what this fundamental change in behaviour could mean in terms of resource stewardship!
THINK OF THE FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES....
Litter reduction by up to 25 %.
Financial gain. Less “rubbish” in kerbside collections means reduced gate fees at tips and reduced landfill costs for local councils. This new revenue (plus savings from reduced litter ) can be used to improve recycling education and facilities.
Fundraising opportunities. Charities and community groups can benefit greatly by collecting drink containers for refund. Annually, Scouts in SA raise around $7 million by running collection points, enabling their membership fees to be the lowest in Australia.
Sustainable job creation. For every 1000 tonnes of waste dealt with, 36 jobs are created when it’s recycled, 6 when it’s taken to landfill, and 1 job is created when it’s incinerated. (US EPA estimates)
Water saving. A Recycling Refund Scheme would save enough water to permanently supply more than 4014 Perth homes. A serious advantage for water-stressed WA.
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality. Making a new can from recycled aluminium saves 95% of the energy used to make a can from raw materials.
