Qld to consider a container deposit scheme

The Queensland Government has announced that it will examine what a container deposit scheme in the state could look like in a move which has been welcomed by environmental groups such as Clean Up, Boomerang Alliance, Greenpeace, Queensland Conservation Council and Wildlife Queensland.

Boomerang Alliance spokesperson Toby Hutcheon, speaking on behalf of the groups, claimed that Queensland is “the most littered state in Australia”. Recent studies show that microplastics are accumulating in Queensland’s marine environment, with corals found to be ingesting these microplastics.

“Litter, particularly plastics, is not only an eyesore - it’s deadly to wildlife,” Hutcheon said. “Thousands of sea birds die in Queensland every year, whilst studies show that 30% of all turtle mortalities in Moreton Bay are due to plastic ingestion.”

By investigating a container deposit scheme, the Queensland Government is meeting a key election promise. The move also allows the state to collaborate with NSW, which plans to introduce a container deposit scheme in mid-2017.

“A cash-for-containers scheme that applies refundable deposits on all beverage containers is the proven approach to reducing beverage container litter with schemes in over 40 other jurisdictions around the world,” Hutcheon said.

“In states such as South Australia, where a scheme has been in place for over 30 years, beverage container recycling rates are over 80% compared to Queensland’s less than 40%.”

The groups claim that a cash-for-containers scheme will reduce litter management costs, increase the value of kerbside collection materials and provide a significant fundraising opportunity for community organisations that collect cans and bottles.

“A container refund scheme is also popular with the community,” Hutcheon said. “A recent Newspoll by Boomerang Alliance (Jan 2015) showed that 85% of Queenslanders supported a container deposit scheme.”

The groups said they would be active in community discussion about a scheme and warned they would vigorously oppose industry alternatives.

“Queenslanders don’t want their state to be known as the ‘rubbish state’,” Hutcheon said.