Media release – Roger Jaensch, Minister for the Environment, 27 October 2021
Waste Bill a win for the environment and jobs
Today I tabled the Waste and Resource Recovery Bill 2021 in the Tasmanian Parliament.
The Bill establishes a statewide waste levy, replacing existing regional levies, which will encourage the diversion of materials from landfill and provide funding to invest in viable alternatives.
Importantly, it delivers on a key part of our plan to reduce litter, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and grow Tasmania’s circular economy.
Instead of recyclable and organic materials going to landfill, more materials will be recovered from the waste streams and turned into new, valuable products.
This is a win for the environment and a win for the creation of new jobs and businesses in Tasmania.
The Bill also establishes a Waste and Resource Recovery Board which will develop a statewide waste strategy and allocate levy funds to implement such a strategy.
Collection of the waste levy is set to begin on 1 July, 2022. Details of the operations will be outlined in the regulations.
We have consulted widely throughout the development of the Bill, and have listened closely to local government on the need to provide a replacement for existing regional levies that ensures no region is worse off and all regions are treated equitably.
We will also work closely with small and remote councils to ensure that levy funds can help them to invest in waste management options that help overcome the unique challenges faced by these communities.
We will continue to work with local government, and the waste management and recycling sectors, to secure Tasmania’s circular economy.
Media release – Roger Jaensch, Minister for the Environment, 26 October 2021
Establishing Tasmania’s first statewide Container Refund Scheme
Today I tabled a Bill to establish Tasmania’s first statewide Container Refund Scheme (CRS) that will reduce litter, increase recycling and create opportunities for businesses, charities and community organisations right across Tasmania.
The draft Bill was released for public consultation earlier this year, with over 3,500 people responding and 98 per cent of survey respondents supportive of a scheme.
Like all schemes currently in operation across Australia, ours will be based on product stewardship principles, where the costs of the scheme are built into the sale price of each container.
While the big beverage companies already participate in refund schemes in other states, many small producers in Tasmania will be facing the costs of participating in such a scheme for the first time.
Because boutique and start-up beverage producers are an important part of our brand, regional employment, and visitor economy, our Government is including a package of initiatives to assist small producers to participate in the Scheme, in a way that no other state or territory has done before.
These initiatives include:
- an 18-month transition period for small producers to meet new labelling requirements;
- a grants program to assist small beverage companies with administrative support and the cost of adopting product barcodes; and
- all beverage companies are exempt from paying into the Scheme for their first 20,000 container sales each year.
This means that many of Tasmania’s smallest beverage suppliers will not pay into the Scheme at all, while their customers can still claim a refund for their containers.
We also know how critical Tasmania’s community will be to the success of Tasmania’s CRS and we are committed to maximising opportunities for Tasmanian charities and community groups to benefit from the scheme.
That’s why we are providing a way for all Tasmanian charities and community groups to register for a Refund Account so members of the public can donate their container refunds directly to the charity or community group of their choice – making it easy for all Tasmanians to do their bit for their community and their environment, at the same time.
I look forward to debate on the Bill and continued engagement with industry, the charity sector, community organisations, and local communities as we roll out Tasmania’s first statewide Container Refund Scheme.
Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment and Biodiversity spokesperson, 27 October 2021
Time Wasted on Waste Levy
Following the tabling of container deposit legislation yesterday, the Liberals have brought another core Greens’ policy to Parliament today – a statewide waste levy.
This is welcome – it’s seven years past time we adopted this simple and sensible policy.
The Greens have promoted a waste levy for decades. It’s critical for putting downward pressure on landfill, and for providing statewide investment into a circular economy.
The Liberals came into government in 2014, with local government and the recycling industry calling for them to introduce a waste levy. However, then-Environment Minister Matthew Groom refused to sign it to legislation, and the environment has suffered since.
While the state waste levy has been sitting in consecutive environment ministers’ in-trays since 2014, mountains of waste have kept clogging up waterways and landfill sites.
After deliberately delaying for seven years, we are so glad the Liberals have finally taken action on this important environmental policy. The Greens will be moving to ensure the statewide levy will be invested directly into waste reduction initiatives, instead of sucked into general state coffers.
Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment and Biodiversity spokesperson, 26 October 2021
Belated Container Refund Scheme Finally Happening
The Greens welcome the Gutwein Government finally tabling legislation that forces beverage companies to take responsibility for their rubbish. After decades of avoidable environmental harm, this action has been too long coming.
A container refund scheme for Tasmania has been Greens’ policy for decades and we are pleased it is finally becoming a reality.
The Greens, community groups and conservationists encountered Liberal ridicule, resistance and delay towards implementing a container deposit scheme, as they fought against legislating product stewardship on behalf of their big corporate mates.
The result has been years of preventable roadside rubbish, and marine plastic pollution that has choked and starved bird and sea life, and permeated the food web.
Environmental stewardship has been lambasted as ‘bad for business’ for years by the Liberals. Thankfully, in this instance, political interests have bowed to overwhelming consumer sentiment and financial sense.
While the Gutwein Government has finally introduced container refund scheme laws to Parliament, we hope it doesn’t take decades to adopt other much-needed Greens environment policies – we have no time to waste to protect our climate and irreplaceable biodiversity.
Media release – Sarah Lovell MLC, Shadow Minister for Parks and Environment, 27 October 2021
Once-in-a-generation chance to get container deposit scheme right
The Container Deposit Scheme proposed by the Gutwein Government will be with Tasmanians for decades and now is the time to ensure it is the right one.
Shadow Environment Minister Sarah Lovell said Labor has long supported a Container Deposit Scheme but it must be designed to achieve the right balance across the community.
“Tasmania is one of only two states without a scheme,” Ms Lovell said.
“So now is the time to ensure we have the best possible model for our state.
“The bill has been tabled this week but we believe it needs further scrutiny. Labor will be seeking a short Legislative Council inquiry to ensure the scheme design proposed by the Liberals is the correct scheme for Tasmania’s environment, for business and for community groups, charities and consumers.
“Organisations such as TasCOSS and the TCCI have raised serious questions about whether the model chosen by the Government is the right one.
“And iconic Tasmanian businesses such as Boags brewery have said the way the Liberal Government has designed the scheme will impose multi-million dollar costs on their business compared to a scheme like those currently successfully operating in South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.
“This scheme will be with Tasmanians for decades to come and it’s imperative we find the right balance.”
