The Victorian government has announced the state will have a container deposit scheme in operation by 2023.
Households will also get a new fourth bin as part of the plan to reduce waste going to landfill by 80% in 10 years.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio today announced $129 million of initiatives to reform kerbside recycling, including the roll out of four colour-coded bins to homes across the state to better sort waste, recyclables and organics:
- glass recycling – purple lid
- food and garden organics – green lid
- plastic, metal and paper recycling – yellow lid
- household waste – red lid
The government said: "By collecting glass separately, we can make sure more of it is effectively recycled – with jars and bottles transformed multiple times into multiple different products, including new roads and footpaths.
"Separate glass collection will also make recovery of other recyclables – like plastic, metal and paper – simpler, with the food and organic bin significantly reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.
"The rollout of the new bins will start next year and happen gradually – informed by the needs of local communities and existing council contracts. There will also be special arrangements for remote regional households and people in apartments, to ensure everyone gets access to the new four-bin system."
To complement this new household recycling system, the government will also introduce a container deposit scheme. The scheme will be launched in close consultation with councils and industry. It is expected to begin by 2023.
An education and behaviour change campaign will support the rollout of the initiatives. It will target households, businesses, councils, community groups and charities – helping them transition to the new system.
Premier Daniel Andrews said: “This transformation will position Victoria as a national leader in recycling. Most importantly, it will deliver a system that Victorians can actually rely on.
“This represents a holistic approach to reducing, reusing and recycling our state’s waste. That’s good news for Victoria’s environment and good news for Victorian jobs.”
Coca-Cola Amatil calls for industry involvement
Managing Director for Australia Peter West said Coca-Cola Amatil supports well-run, cost effective container deposit schemes in every state and territory.
“We welcome Victoria’s decision to use container deposit schemes to improve beverage container recycling rates,” he said.
“We are very keen to make this container deposit scheme work. When we sell a bottle, we want it to be a bottle again – and again. Container deposit schemes are the best way to support the recycling industry.
“We’re pro-collection and support a circular economy for packaging materials. We’re a market leader in the use of recycled materials, and always looking to do more.”
Amatil said the Victorian Government’s policy, together with similar circular economy policies in other states in Australia, help to create the conditions necessary to make an informed investment decision to recycle in Australia.
Amatil also noted that the beverages industry has been appointed scheme co-ordinator for each of the currently established schemes in Australia.
"This reflects the industry’s expertise in business operations, demonstrated support for an effective recycling network, and interest in keeping costs low for consumers and customers," the company said.
Coca-Cola Amatil has been the scheme coordinator in South Australia for over 40 years and recognises that container deposit schemes improve purity of the material and avoid rubbish contamination, making the material better for recycling.
“We would like to work with the Victorian Government to ensure the container deposit scheme maximises collection rates and recycling and minimises impact on consumers and the industry,” West said.
Western Australia prepares to launch CDS scheme
WA will become the fifth state in Australia to bring in a container deposit scheme on June 2.
The container deposit scheme will allow Western Australians to return eligible beverage containers to dedicated refund points to receive a refund of 10 cents per container.
Unlike WA’s previous container deposit scheme, people must now return containers to a dedicated refund point/collection centre to receive their refund. People can also choose to donate their refund to a charity, community group or not for profit organisation that is registered with the scheme.
Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard containers between 150ml and three litres will be eligible for a refund under the container deposit scheme.
Other drink containers such as cordial, wine and spirit bottles, water and wine casks, plain and flavoured milk in cartons of one litre or more are excluded from the container deposit scheme and will continue to be recycled via residential recycling collection.
The estimated range of costs (ex GST) per container, by material type of Western Australia’s scheme will start at 11.39c for aluminium, 11.84c for glass, 11.85c for HDPE, 11.76c for PET and 12.17c for LPB.
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