Big Benefits from Recycling Bottles and Cans

Tuesday, 15 April 2008 19:16

A new study produced by The Boomerang Alliance shows that our precious kerbside recycling system is making significant losses and container deposits will make it more financially viable.

“Local councils and ratepayers are footing a massive annual bill to deal with the 8.3billion drink bottles we consume each year” said Jeff Angel Director of Total Environment Centre.

“Residents are forking out over $257million a year to deal with bottle and can waste and that’s just for 40% of our containers, with the rest going to landfill. Also more beverages are consumed ‘away from home’ (food halls, restaurants, public spaces) where there is no recycling system. We have to get a better solution to stop the waste of resources which will also help reduce greenhouse gas pollution.”

“Container Deposits are a proven and effective tool that have been in place for over 30 years in South Australia, there is far less litter, they have recycling rates that are double the rest of the country and the public love the initiative said Angel.

The beverage industry has been lobbying governments not to accept the South Australian call claiming it would cost Australian households.

“Sure the price of a bottle or can of drink will go up by 10¢ but it’s temporary - you get that back” said Angel “its pretty simple really, you stop off at the recycling centre located in the supermarket car park and drop off your containers. And it helps to make kerbside more viable because, as in South Australia, those who don’t want the deposit and put the container out for collection are making a donation to the council recycling system which gets the money instead.”

The economic study ‘Financial Analysis of Costs and Benefits of a National Container Deposit System’ was produced to rebut industry’s misleading claims and shows that South Australia’s proposal will:
- Double bottle and can recycling rates;
- Reduce the amount of waste to landfill by over 630,000 tonnes per annum;
- Reduce recycling costs by over $84million and also save ratepayers another $59million a year.
- The public understand, that they pay a 10¢ deposit up front and if they can get a refund when they return their containers, around 90% are happy to do so.

“Doubling the amount of aluminium, glass and plastic containers we recycle will have huge environmental benefits. The greenhouse gas reductions alone are about the same as switching every house in Canberra over to renewable energy” said lead author Boomerang Alliance National Campaign Director Dave West.

”Container Deposits will also produce enough water savings are enough to permanently supply over 16,000 homes and improve air quality by the equivalent of taking 141,000 cars off the road” said West.

The analysis also highlighted that if the current strategy of the controversial National Packaging Covenant is implemented, the costs to local government and the community of managing packaging waste and litter will increase by over $222million pa.

“Our analysis shows us that Container Deposits will provide the single biggest stimulus to recycling we have seen in 20 years; if governments want to lift recycling rates they have only two choices - introduce Container Deposits, which will double recycling and save money; or place a $300million levy on all bottles and cans to cover council and other costs and get maybe half the results,” said West