Tasmania has reached a major environmental milestone, with 100 million eligible drink containers returned through Recycle Rewards in just eleven months since the scheme launched in May 2025.  

This achievement highlights the strong participation of communities right across the state, and the growing awareness of how everyday actions can make a real difference to the environment.

To celebrate the milestone, Recycle Rewards has launched an impact calculator and dashboard to help Tasmanians understand the environmental benefits of their recycling efforts, including savings in carbon emissions, energy and water.

The impact so far

Recycling 100 million drink containers has already delivered significant environmental benefits, including:

  • Carbon emission savings equivalent to taking 7500 cars off the road for a year 
  • Energy savings equivalent to powering 1700 homes for a year
  • Water savings equivalent to 250 Olympic-sized swimming pools. 

Minister for Environment Madeleine Ogilvie said the milestone reflects an extraordinary collective effort.

“Returning 100 million containers is an extraordinary effort by Tasmanians right across the state,” she said. “I’m excited to try the new Recycle Rewards impact calculator because it combines two things I’m very passionate about: the environment and technology.“

She encouraged all Tasmanians to explore the tool and see how small actions can add up.

Dodges Ferry Primary School students Madeleine Craven and Naomi Downie have first-hand experience understanding the difference their recycling makes. “We use the impact calculator in our maths class,” Madeleine explained. “We’ve learned how to calculate our refunds as well as how much energy, water and carbon emissions we can save just by recycling.” Naomi added, “My family loves recycling to help the environment. We’ve always done it. Now we make some money too.”

TasRecycle CEO Ken Roughley said the milestone demonstrates both strong public participation and increasing awareness of the benefits of container refund schemes.

“Tasmanians are delivering real environment impact just by returning eligible drink containers to a Recycle Rewards refund point.”  

How the scheme works

Since 1 May 2025, Tasmanians have been able to get 10 cents for every eligible drink container returned to Recycle Rewards refund points across Tasmania, including on King and Flinders Islands. 

Find more information about Recycle Rewards, including what’s eligible and where to find your nearest refund point at recyclerewards.com.au.