NSW Set To Introduce Cash For Containers

[icyfroth]

A drinks container deposit scheme is to be introduced in NSW within the next few weeks as part of a plan to clean up the state's beaches and parks.

The details of the cash for containers scheme are still being finalised but it is likely to feature a rebate of 10 cents per item.

The NSW Government has been negotiating with the drinks industry to introduce the system and Environment Minister Rob Stokes said similar initiatives had proved highly successful in reducing waste in public spaces around the world.

"The beverage industry obviously has a responsibility in terms of the extent of producer liability for their products," Mr Stokes said.

"But we recognise that Government has a strong leadership role to play," he said.

"What we are interested in doing is working together effectively to produce solutions to a shared problem, which is litter and waste in our environment."

Entire Article Here

Finally!

[aps1080]

this one / icy

I think their is a bit of confusion over what the whole thing means and we are interpreting it differently.

Although it seems everyone likes the scheme.


I also collected bottles when I was a kid. Pocket money ! LOL

[icyfroth]

Picking it up still doesn't make it go away though, does it?

It still gets dumped somwhere doesn't it? Landfill or somewhere. Eventually it ends in our oceans.

You've heard of the Pacific Garbage Gyre?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_garbage_patch

Out of sight, out of mind?

[aps1080]

It only goes away when it is recycled onto something else.

Yes, I have heard of it. (the Gyre)

[lloydslights]

Firstly, the litter I see mostly these days is plastic and paper products - hardly any cans and less bottles.

I'm trying to think why the Beverage makers (CocaCola) are reportedly, so against the idea.  The only thing I can think of is an increased price by a supplier of the actual recycled plastic product to continue with the bottling (plasticalling?) process.

Or is it the operation, wages, costs of the actual Recycle Centre edit...to be paid by them to avoid the non-littering taxpayer paying.

I can remember the Scouts having a gated trailer  at the local garages for people to bring their aluminium cans.

DEB

[daydream**believer]

Works a treat here in SA.

We collect all our bottles and cans and take them to the recycle place about 3 times a year.

The kids sort them all out and crush the cans so they get the money from it.

We get between $60 and $80 each load

[***super_nova***]

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@this-one-time-at-bandcamp wrote:

"The beverage industry obviously has a responsibility in terms of the extent of producer liability for their products," Mr Stokes said."

I'm not even sure what that actually means........does the cardboard box industry have the same responsibility...........how about the paper and plastic bag industry?  What about the tire industry for all those recapped treads littering the highways?

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The difference between cardboard and beverage containers is that cardboard and other paper will will degrade where ever they are thrown.    In any case most paper is recyclable, and lot of it is recycled.  Does not really matter if it is put into the recycle bins by people, or if it is collected by council workers and then recycled, and even if it ends up in landfill it will just decompose. 

And I think it is a great way for kids to make some pocket money collecting bottles. 

[daydream**believer]

"Firstly, the litter I see mostly these days is plastic and paper products - hardly any cans and less bottles."

Here in SA, they pay 10c each for cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles.

When we drove to Sydney a couple of months ago, we couldnt believe how littered the sides of the road were in NSW with bottles and cans. They were everywhere.

[aps1080]

Daydream.

You should see the NSW Highways - like the Newell highway - after a grass fire has gone though. You could walk on cans and bottles.

[***super_nova***]

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@aps1080 wrote:

It only goes away when it is recycled onto something else.

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Yes, and having to take their bottles back will give incentive for the beverage companies to be looking for new ideas how to recycle the bottles, and/or for better materials that are easier to recycle.