Aussies offered free cash as state finally rolls out latest recycling scheme
South Australia led the way in 1977 as the first state in Australia to introduce a container deposit scheme (CDS), allowing residents to exchange bottles for cash at designated recycling sites.
Now, almost 50 years later, Tasmania has become the latest jurisdiction to adopt the initiative, joining all other states and territories in the nationwide push for recycling.
On Wednesday, authorities confirmed Tasmania's version of the program, Recycling Rewards, will officially launch on May 1.
The long-awaited and highly anticipated scheme — particularly welcomed by environmental advocates — will offer a 10-cent refund for each eligible drink container returned at dozens of designated refund points across the state.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a spokeswoman for TasRecycle said when the program launches, it'll "be accessible to all Tasmanians."
The spokeswoman said there will be a state-wide network of 49 refund points, though those locations are still being confirmed. "The exact location of each refund point is being finalised and further information will be made available closer to the scheme's commencement," she told Yahoo.
The program is intended to drastically reduce the amount of plastic containers ending up on the streets and in landfill, and move the state closer toward a circular economy, Environment Minister Madeleine Ogilvie said.
"Drink containers make up as much as 45 per cent of Tasmania's litter and through Recycle Rewards, we hope to reduce that by half and double their recycling rate," she told media.
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"Recycle Rewards will launch [in a staged rollout] on May 1. In the meantime, keep recycling as normal using your yellow kerbside bin or using public recycling bins."
A Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) told Yahoo that a benchmark measurement will be taken ahead of the start of the scheme to ensure that the effectiveness of the campaign is tracked.
Minister Ogilvie urged beverage manufacturers to prepare for the transition and apply for available news grants to assist in the cost of obtaining barcodes and updating labels in line with the program.
NRE Tas will offer grants of up to $1,000, with a total funding pool of $80,000. Applications for these grants close on June 30, 2025 at 11.55pm, or when available funds are expended.
Wednesday's announcement means Australia is on track to become the first continent in the world to have a CDS in every jurisdiction.
South Australia pioneered Australia's first CDS in 1977, followed by the Northern Territory in 2012, NSW in 2017, the ACT and Queensland in 2018, Western Australia in 2020 and Victoria in 2023.
The program stands to see Tasmanians earn hundreds if they're willing to put in the time effort.
Late last year, Yahoo News spoke to one Brisbane-based woman who said she earned $100 in just half an hour by collecting bottles in her city.
Heidi Lou began her can collecting mission last Christmas after watching her parents do the same. They inspired her to jump on board the money-saving hack by utilising the state's "Containers for Change" recycling scheme.
Though popular, a prominent lawyer recently warned over the potential legal issues that could arise if Australians collecting bottles do so in an unlawful manner.
Avanish Singh said there could be several issues here when it comes to the law. Singh said, if it's in the bin, it's effectively fair game.
"If items have been placed in a bin for disposal, then the item will be taken to be 'abandoned' — this means that someone who takes an item from a bin cannot be charged with stealing as the item is no longer capable of being stolen," he told Yahoo News.
"The previous owner has effectively relinquished ownership of it.
"However, if a person enters onto an enclosed private land — for example through a gate or over a fence — then they are trespassing. There are similar offences in all Australian states and territories."
In Victoria, for example, the maximum penalty for such an act is six months' jail time or a fine of up to 25 penalty units.
In the country, we collectively consume 3.79 million tonnes of plastic per year.
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