Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP | Tasmanian Greens spokesperson for Waste and Recycling
"The Greens welcome the Government’s announcement of the model for a Container Refund Scheme. This is a long-time coming, and the result of decades of advocacy by conservationists and the Greens to protect our waterways and reduce waste.
"We are pleased to hear the Government’s commitment to implementing a scheme that will be convenient for the community, good for the environment and maximise the number of containers returned.
"A split model that separates the coordinating body for the refund scheme from the body that operates the network of recycling points is essential for prioritising the public’s best interest.
"Big corporations should have no place in controlling a state’s ability to recycle, and a split model is one important step to removing this obvious conflict of interest risk.
"The Government’s timeline says legislation will be drafted for public consultation “later this year”. We’d expect a container deposit scheme to be done and dusted well before the end of this electoral term – the can has been kicked down the road long enough."
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson | Australian Greens spokesperson for Waste and Recycling
“This decision was a no-brainer, so I’m breathing a sigh of relief the Tasmanian Government listened to the Greens and recycling groups about the scheme delivery,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.
“Big beverage corporations were positioning to profit from the scheme by controlling the management of both container refunds and recycling operations in Tasmania. It’s taken considerable work to expose their blatant self-interest.
“After decades of campaigning to get a scheme running it would have been devastating to see big corporations take profits that should be directed to the public interest.
Senator Whish-Wilson said all eyes would now be on Victoria as the only state left without a Container Deposit Scheme.
“The pressure is now on for Victoria to act urgently to reduce litter and increase recycling rates by implementing a truly community-based scheme.”