Waste Levy & Container Deposit Legislation On Way

Media release – Roger Jaensch, Minister for Environment and Parks, 4 February 2021

Waste Levy for Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government has today released its draft Waste and Resource Recovery Bill for public consultation, which will allow for the introduction of a waste levy in Tasmania.

The Bill also provides for the formation of a Waste and Resource Recovery Board to oversee Tasmania’s long term waste strategy, and allocate funds raised by the levy.

The Government is proposing to introduce a waste levy from November 1 2021.

To ensure businesses and local government have ample time to plan for the future, it is proposed that introduction of the levy will be staggered over four years, starting at $20 per tonne and rising to $60 after four years.

The levy will provide an incentive to divert waste from landfill and funding for innovative waste and resource recovery initiatives to help build a circular economy in Tasmania, supporting the creation of new jobs and businesses.

The introduction of a waste levy is a key action from Tasmania’s draft Waste Action Plan.

Public consultation on the draft Bill will close on Friday 12 March 2021.

Further information can be found at: www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/environmental-management

Container Refund Scheme model chosen

The Tasmanian Government has today announced its preferred model for a Container Refund Scheme as part of our commitment to having the lowest litter rate in the country by 2023.

The chosen model, a split responsibility Container Refund Scheme, will bring together the beverage industry and the waste and recycling sectors to deliver the best scheme for Tasmania.

The split responsibility model, which is already operating in NSW and ACT and being developed in Victoria, involves a Scheme Coordinator who will run the administration and finance for the scheme, while a separate Network Operator runs the network of Refund Points.

It will see a refund of 10 cents for all eligible drink containers returned to a designated return point in Tasmania.

This has been an important decision which will allow legislation to be drafted for public consultation later this year.

Contracts for the roles of Scheme Coordinator and Network Operator will be awarded through an open tender process after the legislation has been approved by parliament.

The Tasmanian Government is committed to implementing a scheme that will be convenient for the community, good for the environment and maximises the number of containers returned.

It will see people receive a refund for returning eligible drink containers to designated Refund Points around the state, which will significantly reduce litter and increase recycling rates, thereby driving our circular economy.

The introduction of a Container Refund Scheme is a key action in Tasmania’s draft Waste Action Plan. The Government is committed to having the scheme commence operation in 2022.

Further information can be found at: https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/environmental-management/container-refund-scheme

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Media release – Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR), 4 February 2021

A big day for WARR in Tasmania

The A big day for WARR in Tasmania  has welcomed today’s flurry of positive announcements from Tasmanian Minister of Environment, Roger Jaensch, saying these initiatives will put necessary levers in place to drive resource recovery and jobs in the state.

Kicking off with the Container Refund Scheme (CRS), the Minister unveiled the government’s preferred model – a split responsibility scheme – that will enable all interested parties to take a role in this important scheme and play to their respective strengths, with contracts for the scheme coordinator and network operator being awarded through an open tender process. “

WMRR congratulates the Minister for understanding that a best practice CRS is one that includes multiple important players with distinct responsibilities to drive the success of the system, the proof of success being in its ease of access, effective community engagement, and clear ability to boost recycling,” WMRR CEO, Ms Gayle Sloan, said.

“A split responsibility scheme is effective in managing the inherent conflict of interest associated with higher container return rates leading to increased refunds back to the community. We look forward to Tasmania’s tender process, which will no doubt match the right players to the right roles, aligned to the objectives of the government and community, and doing so in an open and transparent way.”

The Minister also announced the release of the draft Waste and Resource Recovery Bill for public consultation, which will finally introduce a state-wide waste levy in Tasmania. It is proposed that the levy is introduced on 1 November 2021, starting at $20 per tonne and increasing to $60 after four (4) years.

“WMRR applauds the government for recognising the importance of introducing a levy as a price signal on the value of materials. The levy plays an essential part in our sector as an economic tool within an integrated suite of policies, to both incentivise resource recovery and recognise the true long-term cost of managing material disposal,” Ms Sloan said.

“While we appreciate the need to prepare for such a change, the Tasmanian government’s proposed rate of $20 per tonne will not shift the dial to investment in resource recovery and Tasmanian jobs; it is simply too low to maximise, much less drive, resource recovery and landfill diversion. WMRR looks forward to continued engagement with the Minister on the levy rate and more ahead of the November roll-out.

“Ultimately, it is a really positive day for the WARR sector, community, and environment in Tasmania, with these announcements setting the state on a path of continued growth in capacity, which will no doubt lead to environmental and economic gains, including increased investment and job creation, and we congratulate the government for driving these important initiatives in Tasmania.” Ms Sloan said.

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Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Waste and Recycling Spokesperson, 4 February 2021

Waste Levy – the Liberals’ Slowest Policy Decision

The Greens welcome the announcement today of the Government’s intention to introduce a statewide levy on waste, and are amazed the Liberals have finally reached this point.

A statewide waste levy was proposed in early 2014, and had wide and enthusiastic support from LGAT (28 of 29 Councils), the EPA Board, the waste management industry and the community. All the background work for a levy had been completed, including a governance model outlined in the Blue Environment Report 2013, and a social and economic study.

The document to move ahead with a statewide waste levy sat on then-Environment Minister Matthew Groom’s desk, ready for him to sign into life following the 2014 election. It sat there for the next two years until he effectively killed off the idea, announcing a new waste strategy would instead be required for Tasmania.

Seven years after a statewide waste levy was researched, agreed to by all stakeholders, formally drafted and then sidelined, the Liberals have finally committed to taking action.

The Greens say “better late than never”, and we’ll be scrutinising the draft legislation to make sure the proposed levy gathered at the state level will be fully directed into waste recycling activities and promotion, and does not end up in the consolidated revenue stream.

Recycling Scheme Model Welcome

“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.”