Media Release - ACT Container Deposit Scheme

ACT Container Deposit Scheme celebrates 5th birthday and over 451 million drink containers recycled

teagan.went — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 05:21:01 +0000

The ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) is celebrating the incredible recycling efforts of the ACT community as it marks its 5th birthday and over 451 million drink containers recycled.

“Thank you to the ACT community for making the ACT CDS part of your everyday life. Together your participation is having a significant and positive impact on our local environment with less litter and less landfill, while also contributing to a growing domestic circular economy,” said Danielle Smalley, CEO of scheme coordinator Exchange for Change.

There are now 22 return points available across the ACT including the first donation station for the scheme, located at the Australian National University. The refunds from all eligible containers deposited in the digital smart bin will support the Conservation Council of the ACT and ANU Thrive’s Kitchen Garden project.

“Alongside the environmental benefits, the ACT community’s participation is also delivering incredible social benefits. We’re thrilled to see so many local charities and community groups use the scheme to support their important work, from animal rescue organisations to local schools and sporting clubs.

“And as we celebrate 5 years of success, we’re also celebrating an exciting new partnership with well-known food rescue organisation OzHarvest as the ACT CDS’ first Territory-wide recycling appeal, using the refunds from bottles and cans to provide meals to people in need,” said Ms Smalley.

In the past 12 months, OzHarvest Canberra has rescued provided over 928,000 meals from food that would otherwise have gone to landfill.

“Every dollar donated to OzHarvest provides two meals, and one dollar only takes 10 eligible drink containers,” said Belinda (Bin) Barnier, City Manager OzHarvest Canberra

“Our goal is to raise $50,000 in donated container refunds in 12 months. These funds will provide 100,000 meals to people doing it tough, so we encourage everyone in the ACT to get behind this appeal,” Bin said.

Marc Churchin, CEO of network operator Return-It said ACT residents should be incredibly proud of the positive impact they’re having.

“248 million containers recycled via the network means $24.8 million in container refunds back in the hands of the community,” said Marc Churchin, CEO of network operator Return-It.

“And with all glass, plastic and aluminium containers recycled into new drink containers and other products, the majority right here in Australia, this also equates to 663 swimming pools worth of water savings, energy savings equivalent to powering 3,000 average households for a year and 13,300 cars off the road for a year in CO2 savings compared to using virgin materials to make new bottles or cans,” he said.

The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator
Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.

Since launching on 30 June 2018, more than 451 million containers have been returned for recycling including 248 million through local return points and 203 million through kerbside recycling.

The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.

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Plastic bags, plates and bowls no longer stack up – further ACT single-use plastic bans

teagan.went — Wed, 31 May 2023 02:36:14 +0000

Released 30/05/2023

Canberrans are set to reduce even more waste going to landfill with the next phase of the ACT Government’s single-use plastics ban coming into effect from 1 July 2023.

From this date, the following items cannot be supplied in the ACT:

single-use plastic plates and bowls
expanded polystyrene loose fill packaging and expanded polystyrene trays
plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal care and cleaning products.

From 1 January 2024, the ACT Government will also phase out:

heavyweight and boutique plastic bags

“From January next year, plastic bags currently available at major supermarkets and retailers will be banned in a major win for the environment and our community,” said Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel.

“There has been strong support for the shift away from single-use plastics and the transition to using more sustainable materials, which protect our local environment and reduce harmful waste going to landfill.

“The ACT Government undertook a 12-week consultation to inform our decision on the latest banned items, and we thank the community and industry for providing their valuable feedback on this.”

These new bans are addition to the single-use plastic items already banned in the ACT since 2021 including:

single‑use plastic cutlery,
drink stirrers and plastic straws,
expanded polystyrene takeaway food and beverage containers,
cotton buds with plastic sticks,
all oxo-degradable plastics and
plastic bags that are less than 35 microns in thickness.

“Other types of single-use plastics were included in the list of proposed items. The consultation identified, however, that no suitable alternatives are currently available for these items. As a result, they have not been included in this ban but may be considered in the future as better susbstitutes are developed,” said Minister Steel.

“Industry also told us they need time to prepare for the ban, particularly in relation to banning additional plastic bags. The ACT Government has listened to this and the ban on heavyweight and boutique plastic bags will not start for six months and we have also put in place other appropriate exemptions for some other items.”

The following items will not be banned at this time:

plastic takeaway containers
moulded expanded polystyrene packaging used for the packaging and protection of electronics, white goods, furniture and other bulky items
plastic bowls with a lid
a temporary exemption applies for plastic bowls and plates with a plastic lining or coating – they will be exempted until 31 October 2024 to harmonise with bans and exemptions in other states such as NSW, QLD and VIC and to allow industry time to develop non-plastic compliant solutions.
a permanent exemption applies for plastic bowls used in medical, scientific or forensic circumstances, as alternatives can compromise health and safety.

In a further step to progress lasting change, the ACT Government will also start consultation on expanding the container deposit scheme to include wine, spirit and cordial bottles.

“With more than 444 million containers recycled since our scheme started, including these additional items will make it even easier for Canberrans to recycle and cut waste going into landfill,” said Minister Steel.

“These reforms demonstrate our ongoing commitment to building a circular economy.”

The ACT Government will take an education-first approach to the ban and will provide resources and information to support businesses with the transition.

Have your say on the expansion of the container deposit scheme.

The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.

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New container deposit machine open in Weston Creek

teagan.went — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 00:08:40 +0000

Weston Creek residents have a new convenient location to redeem their empty drink containers with the opening of an ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) reverse vending machine at Commons Court.

“The ACT welcomed its first Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) reverse vending machine just over a year ago at Erindale Shopping Centre. Hundreds of locals are using the self-service machine and have recycled more than 1 million eligible bottles and cans,” said Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel.

“We’re excited to launch a second reverse vending machine, located at Commons Court in Weston Creek, and it will be open from 7am to 7pm daily.”

This gives residents another convenient option for recycling aluminium, glass, and plastic containers while going about their regular shopping.

“If you’re looking to use the new machine, you will need a Return-It Express account to get started, and the 10c refund per container will be transferred to you within a few business days,” said Minister Steel.

“The Weston Creek reverse vending machine is the 20^th return point in the ACT, alongside cash-back depots, Drop and Go Pods and Drop and Go Points.

“Canberrans that use the CDS have already returned a staggering 217 million bottles and cans through the ACT CDS network of return points since the scheme launched in 2018.

“This has resulted in over $21.7 million in container refunds going back in people’s pockets and importantly contributed to a growing domestic circular economy, with the containers recycled into new products including new bottles and cans.

“Participation in the ACT CDS continues to grow, whether it’s to save for an important goal, to support a local charity or to help the environment.

“In December 2022, Canberrans achieved an outstanding new record of 367,745 containers returned in just one day. The new Weston Creek reverse vending machine gives Canberrans another way to make recycling easier.”

The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.

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ACT CDS celebrates National Recycling Week with launch of impact calculator

teagan.went — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 05:50:09 +0000

“Sometimes the world’s environmental problems can seem overwhelming,” said Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change, the organisation charged with administering the ACT Container Deposit Scheme.

“However, the ACT Container Deposit Scheme, where the ACT community have collectively returned over 366 million containers for recycling through both the return point network and kerbside collections, is an amazing example of how individual action can have a positive collective impact.”

The ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS), an ACT Government initiative, targets commonly littered items, and includes most 150ml to three litre plastic, glass, aluminium, steel, and liquid paperboard drink containers.

Eligible containers featuring the 10c refund mark can be redeemed for ten cents each via the ACT return point network made up of depots, pods, and a reverse-vending machine, managed by the scheme’s network operator, Return-It.

“The scheme is a great example of how we all need to take responsibility for the future of our planet,” Ms Smalley said.

“Waste isn’t waste until it’s wasted is the theme for this year’s National Recycling Week. And the ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) helps ACT locals do just that – reduce waste and recycle better,” she added.

By using the scheme, you ensure your drink containers don’t end up as litter or landfill. Instead, those bottles and cans form part of a clean stream of recyclable materials that get remade into new drink containers and other products, reducing the need for virgin materials.

“Understanding the positive impact of your recycling is a great motivator to keep going and to encourage others to do the same. Which is why we created the ACT CDS Impact Calculator – it’s an easy way for people to understand the environmental benefits of recycling through the scheme,” said Ms Smalley.

The new digital tool is based on an independent life cycle assessment, undertaken by Lifecycles Australia. It reviewed three years of the scheme’s consumer return data and the energy needed to run return points all the way to the fuel used by trucks to collect the containers and transport them to a recycler.

Users are invited to input the number of containers they have returned for recycling. The Impact Calculator then calculates the water, energy, and landfill savings as well as the carbon emissions avoided from recycling through the scheme.

“We use everyday examples like water savings in minutes showering and energy saved to power your TV to help people to relate to and to understand the importance of recycling,” said Ms Smalley.

“An innovative toggle bar also lets users see the collective impact if everyone in the ACT returned the same number of containers, to highlight the positive impact people’s everyday choices can have,” she said.

For more information on the ACT CDS and to calculate your impact, visit www.actcds.org.au.

The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.

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ACT Container Deposit Scheme celebrates recycling milestone on 4th birthday

teagan.went — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 03:57:32 +0000

The ACT Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) is marking its 4th birthday by celebrating the tremendous effort of the ACT community which has seen more than 181 million containers returned through the scheme’s network of return points and over $18 million in refunds back in the hands of the community.

This Saturday 2 July 2022, to celebrate the ACD CDS’s 4th birthday, Canberrans can enjoy a free coffee and cookie when they return their containers at any ACT CDS cash-back depot between 9am and 11am (while stocks last).

A new scheme performance dashboard is also now live on the ACT CDS website, providing the public with the latest scheme success metrics including number of containers returned to date, redemption rate and participation.

Currently, 3 in every 4 containers supplied into ACT are being redeemed through the scheme for recycling, including containers returned through one of the 19 return points across the Territory as well as containers collected via resident’s yellow kerbside recycling bins.

“In four years, the ACT Container Deposit Scheme has become a part of life for the majority of ACT residents with 63% of adults participating, resulting in millions of bottles and cans being recycled and avoiding ending up as litter or landfill,” said Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change.

“What’s been really heartening to see alongside the environmental outcomes is the social benefits, with the scheme become a fundraising stalwart for many ACT charities, schools and community organisations,” said Marc Churchin, CEO of Return-It.

The National Zoo and Aquarium began participating shortly after the scheme launched in 2018. Thanks to its group of volunteers coordinating the container collections, it has almost reached its target of $50,000 in refunds for animal conservation initiatives.

There are 19 return points available across the ACT including cash-back depots in Fyshwick, Mitchell, Phillip and Belconnen.

For more information about the ACT Container Deposit Scheme, including your nearest return point, visit www.actcds.org.au.

The ACT CDS is a partnership between the ACT Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator Return-It.

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