My Account
The proposed introduction of a 20-cent refundable deposit scheme for eligible beverage containers has been welcomed by Mahurangi Wastebusters.
The Government is currently consulting on a Container Return Scheme (CRS) which includes a broad range of beverage containers, although milk containers and containers designed to be refilled will be exempt.
The size of eligible beverage containers is proposed to be three litres and smaller with the aim of reducing litter, and the amount of containers being stockpiled or landfilled.
The Government estimates the scheme could increase beverage container recovery to 85% or higher, which means that the scheme could receive more than two billion beverage containers annually for recycling.
Wastebusters director Matthew Luxon says they are ready to become a part of a network of container return depots.
“The number of containers currently wasted is shocking,” Luxon says.
“I remember as a kid using the Cash for Cans scheme run by Comalco. Why did we get rid of a recycling deposit/refund system in the first place?”
Luxon says to be effective and fair, the new CRS should cover all beverage containers, including milk.
The Government is proposing a mixed model of sites for container returns, using a combination of depots and supermarkets.
“We are keen to be part of a nationwide network of CRS depots run as community enterprises working towards zero waste,” Luxon says.
Mahurangi Wastebusters currently employs more than 14 people diverting waste from landfill and keeping resources in circulation.
Consultation on the CRS closes at one minute to midnight on May 8. Submissions can be made at: https://environment.govt.nz/news/transforming-recycling/
Huge support online
We asked our Facebook followers if New Zealand should adopt a Container Return Scheme.
An overwhelming 97% said ‘yes’, 1.5% said ‘no’ and 1.5% were ‘undecided’.
Here’s some of the comments
Canada has done this for years and this would definitely help get those empty cans and bottles out of the rubbish bins. Even when we couldn’t recycle ourselves we’d leave the bottles out for homeless to collect. Tyler J
With only 100 companies creating 71% of global emissions, I think the average Joe Bloggs at home recycling his coke bottle is a grain of sand on the beaches of the world. Most people recycle anyway, target those that are the big problem, in my opinion. Emma G
Yes, we used to do this in the Netherlands and worked really well. Jackie S
Yes, Denmark has a really good scheme that means a tidier community! Bottles, cans etc do mount up quite quickly to a tidy sum. Christina J
