Wednesday, 12 February 2025
TASSIE - WE HAVE A DATE!
The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) welcomes the announcement that the Tasmanian Recycle Rewards scheme will commence on 1 May 2025, and congratulates all those involved in making this scheme a reality for Tasmanians - we know they take a lot of work to deliver!
“This is terrific news for the people of Tasmania, who have been very patient in waiting to gain access to their own container refund scheme which will not only put money back in their pockets but create local jobs and investment in Tasmania,” WMRR CEO Gayle Sloan said today.
“The waste and resource recovery (WARR) industry is excited by the prospect of greater source separation of materials in Tasmania through the scheme, which will enable higher value materials to be recovered, recycled, and reprocessed as inputs into new recycled products,” Ms Sloan added.
The scheme will be administered by the Scheme Coordinator, TasRecycle, and the refund points will be established and operated by the Network Operator, TOMRA Cleanaway, who are delivering a diverse network including automation across the Apple Isle.
“Industry knows from experience elsewhere in Australia that container refund schemes are a highly effective way to increase collection of beverage containers and reduce litter,” said Ms Sloan. “The Recycle Rewards scheme has the potential to deliver huge environmental and social benefits to the people of Tasmania”.
WMRR also appreciates Minister Ogilvie’s recognition that the scheme will support the development of the circular economy in Tasmania. In WMRR’s view, the scheme is a once in a lifetime opportunity to roll out statewide infrastructure that can become the backbone of taking back and recycling not only containers, but a broader range of materials, including batteries, e-waste and other materials into the future. It also adds to investment in local state-of-the-art recycling and sorting capacity to produce raw materials for local remanufacturing industries, helping transition to a circular economy.
“We have seen a lot of positive WARR investment and policy in Tasmania recently with the introduction of Recycle Rewards, the advent of the levy and the work of the WRR Board. WMRR would encourage the Tasmanian Government to continue down this path and expand the scheme to include other containers as proposed by other Australian jurisdictions as quickly as possible and keep this positive momentum going!”
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