More than one million containers have been returned by Tasmanians in just four days since the launch of the state’s new container deposit scheme, Recycle Rewards.
The milestone was reached on Sunday morning at a refund point located at the Cove Hill Precinct in Bridgewater, marking a strong public uptake of the initiative aimed at reducing litter and promoting recycling, the government said in a news release.
Tasmania’s Minister for the Environment, Madeleine Ogilvie, welcomed the early success of the program and expressed her gratitude to the community for its enthusiastic participation.
“One million containers and counting. I thank Tasmanians for getting behind Recycle Rewards and giving back to the environment and community,” Minister Ogilvie said.
She added that the scheme not only helps divert waste from landfill and protect wildlife, but also rewards positive behaviour.
“Recycle Rewards rewards Tasmanians for doing the right thing, ensuring that litter is recycled and doesn’t go into landfill, or the environment where it can hurt our wildlife,” she said.
According to the Tasmanian Government, 39 per cent of refunds and donations were processed through the Recycle Rewards app, reflecting a strong engagement with digital platforms across the state.
Under the scheme, residents can choose to receive a 10-cent refund for every eligible container or donate the proceeds to one of over 120 approved Donation Partners.
To date, the most supported organisations include Tassie Mums, Landcare Tasmania, and the Burnie Men’s Shed.
By the end of Sunday, more than 1.2 million containers had been returned across Tasmania, with 594,253 in the South, 405,765 in the North, and 206,211 in the North West and on the West Coast.
Sunday was also the scheme’s busiest day, recording 362,880 deposits.
Welcoming the early results, TasRecycle Chair Ben Kearney said the figures point to a promising future for the scheme.
“This is the start of an exciting future for the scheme in Tasmania, that benefits our environment and charity and community groups,” Mr Kearney said.
TOMRA Cleanaway CEO James Dorney noted the importance of accessibility as the scheme continues to expand.
“We’re proud to be making it easy for Tasmanians to return eligible drink containers as we continue to roll out the remaining refund points across this beautiful island state,” he said.
Currently, there are 40 refund points operating across Tasmania, with an additional nine expected to be in place by the end of August 2025.
Aluminium containers made up the majority of returns at 62 per cent, followed by plastic (25%), glass (12%), and liquid paperboard (1%).
More information on the scheme, including how to become a donation partner, is available at https://recyclerewards.com.au.
