A windfall may be ahead for community groups like Scouts and charities which are prepared to collect bottles and cans for recycling.
The NSW government is considering a scheme which will see a rebate of 10 cents each paid for the return of cans, bottles and plastic drink containers.
Containers would be deposited in a reverse vending machine - instead of taking drinks out of a machine, the empties would go back in and a payment would be issued.
Reverse vending machines may be installed in public areas along with community recycling centres with schools and charities the main beneficiaries of the new scheme. The aim is to reduce glass and plastic bottles and cans consumed away from home and left to litter public areas.
Member for Barwon, Mr Kevin Humphries, has welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement it favours the introduction of a state-based container deposit scheme (CDS).
Mr Humphries said littered containers are a major issue in communities and the introduction of a CDS would provide economic and environmental benefits.
“The NSW Government has been examining different approaches used both in Australia and around the world to reduce litter and increase the recycling of container waste,” Mr Humphries said.
“Independent advice says that a state-based scheme, using reverse vending machines and targeting containers that are predominantly consumed away-from-home, will be cost-efficient and effective.
“Importantly, it will also
complement, rather than compete with, our existing kerbside recycling system.
“The Government is currently working with the community and industry to refine the design principles of a CDS and in turn protect the environmental health of our parks, rivers and towns.
Mr Humphries said the reform will be part of the broader action being undertaken by the NSW Government to reduce litter generally, with the aim that NSW will have the lowest litter count per capita in Australia.
“Through the Waste Less, Recycle More program, $20 million is being used over five years to revitalise anti-littering efforts across the state, including new education and community awareness campaigns, new and upgraded litter infrastructure and targeted enforcement programs,” Mr Humphries said.
Challenge Recycling in Narrabri has welcomed the introduction of the proposed recycling rebate for plastic bottles, aluminium cans and containers.
Challenge operates a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) offering employment opportunities to twenty-three people with disabilities and currently processes over 3000 tonnes of waste material annually, over 100 tonnes of which includes plastic bottles and aluminium cans.
“It appears that while the Government is reviewing a number of options the reverse vending machine may be the most likely,” said Challenge Executive Manager, Stephen Doley.
The reverse vending machine would provide a 10 cent refund in exchange for plastic bottles and cans.
“Any initiative which results in less waste going to landfill and greater environmental awareness is welcomed by Challenge.
“However, we are keen to ensure the system is viable, measurable and beneficial for all.”
Challenge is also concerned about the accuracy of measuring the success of the program as there is currently no consistent tool for measuring recycling amounts for aluminium and PET bottles.
“Capturing the effectiveness of the scheme will be interesting as there are currently no tools for measuring existing recycling quantities of aluminium and PET bottles” Mr Dooley added.
“Installing vending machines in high traffic, public areas may be beneficial in cities and large towns but may not be sustainable in smaller, regional hubs.
“The cost in couriering the waste from the vending machine to a recycling plant for processing may not be viable for smaller communities, which may result in them missing out,” warned Mr Doley.