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Recycle Rewards is a new initiative being introduced in Tasmania which will commence 1 May 2025.

Recycle Rewards is a Tasmanian Government initiative funded by contributions from the beverage industry. It will offer a 10 cent refund to consumers for returning eligible drink containers at refund points across Tasmania.

The scheme aims to reduce Tasmania’s litter of drinks containers by up to half, create new economic opportunities, generate new jobs and turn drink containers into new recycled products.

Recycle Rewards is set to launch 1 May 2025.

From 1 May 2025, Tasmanians are encouraged to collect eligible beverage containers and take them to one of the refund points around Tasmania to receive a 10 cent refund per container. This refund can be received in the form of a retail voucher, an electronic refund, or donated to a Donation Partner.

No, containers cannot be collected for refunds until Recycle Rewards commences on 1 May 2025.

We encourage the public not to ‘stockpile’ containers, and to continue to recycle as normal in their kerbside recycling bin or public recycling bins.  

This is to ensure that the scheme runs smoothly when it begins, and that every container collected and returned for a refund is eligible upon the commencement date.

Recycle Rewards will be run by a Scheme Coordinator and a Network Operator, as a split responsibility model which was the chosen model by the Tasmanian Government.

TasRecycle has been appointed as Scheme Coordinator and will:

• Manage the financial and administrative aspects of the scheme
• Conduct audits of the scheme to prevent fraud
• Pay refund amounts and collection network costs to the Network Operator
• Report against performance targets set by the government.

TOMRA Cleanaway Tasmania has been appointed as Network Operator and they will:

• Establish and maintain a network of refund points
• Distribute refund amounts to consumers
• Distribute payments to refund point operators.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania’s role is regulatory and will provide general oversight of the scheme, which includes contract management and policy setting of the scheme.

All Tasmanians will benefit from Recycle Rewards as it will increase recycling and decrease litter, create new jobs and economic opportunities for Tasmania.  

There will also be opportunities for charities, community and sports groups to get involved with fundraising by collecting containers, registering to receive donations of refunds from others, initiating a collection drive and applying to operate a refund point. 

Participating in Recycle Rewards is the rewarding way to recycle your drink containers. It is a great way to help keep our environment and waterways litter-free, whilst earning a 10 cent refund for every eligible container you deposit. Once returned, your drink containers become a valuable material for recycling.

The collected containers will be sorted into clean material streams and sold to recyclers in Australia and sometimes overseas where local options are not viable. Containers returned in Tasmanian will be made into new products including new beverage containers.

The process reduces waste sent to landfill and minimises litter and decreases demand for new raw materials.

Recycle Rewards is a product stewardship scheme, which means beverage companies pay for the 10 cent refund and operating costs, supporting the Tasmanian Government to ensure Recycle Rewards is convenient and accessible for all Tasmanians.   

Beverage suppliers play a part in helping to improve recycling rates and reduce the number of containers that wind up in landfill.  

TasRecycle – which is responsible for managing the marketing, the financial operations, and ensuring the smooth operation of the scheme – is run on a not-for-profit basis.  

The costs of Recycle Rewards are paid by beverage suppliers. Suppliers decide what proportion of costs are passed on to consumers. Independent reviews in other states have found no evidence of beverage price increases exceeding scheme costs during the first year of implementation of container refund schemes.

Recycle Rewards is expected to create over 50 jobs by TasRecycle and TOMRA Cleanaway Tasmania, with additional indirect jobs also emerging across related sectors.

The recycling industry contributes billions of dollars to the Australian economy. In other states, container refund schemes have generated hundreds of sustainable jobs.

Most councils prohibit people from removing rubbish from a bin placed on a footpath. Breaking the local law may result in a fine, particularly if rubbish or litter is left around a bin after it has been raided. If you are affected by this issue, please contact your local council.

A refund point is a collection place where you can return your eligible containers and receive a 10 cent refund for each container.

There are a number of different types of refund points including Reverse Vending Machines, Depots and Over the Counter sites.

Integral to the design of the scheme is the aim to provide all Tasmanians with opportunities to participate in the scheme and receive a refund for their containers.

Community access standards have been developed by NRE Tas to establish the minimum requirements for the fair and equitable distribution of the network or refund points across Tasmania.

There will be a phased roll-out of a network of 49 refund points established across the state, including on King and Flinders Island.

The exact location of each refund point is being finalised and this information will be made available closer to scheme commencement.

• Reverse Vending Machine (RVMs) are conveniently located self-service refund points. You will be able to find these near supermarkets and in public spaces across Tasmania once Recycle Rewards launches.
• Depots will be staffed centres that are able to sort and count bulk loads of containers. You can walk through or drive through to get your containers counted and get your immediate refund.
• Over The Counter (OTC) refund points will be located at shops in your community. Once you hand over your containers, the staff will count them for you and provide a refund.

The Network Operator must ensure that each refund point, including each Container Refund Machine, the area in which it is located, and the digital content provided at refund points is accessible to persons with a disability.

Each refund point will be compliant with;

• Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• Anti-discrimination Act 1998 (Tas)
• Disability (Access to premises -buildings) standards 2010 (premises standards); and
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) Level AA.

An RVM is a conveniently located self-service refund point. RVMs do not hold cash. You place an empty, eligible drink container into the RVM, the container is scanned to verify it is eligible and then you either:

• Receive a retail voucher which can be spent instore or be exchanged for cash at a participating retailer
• Receive an e-voucher or an electronic refund, or
• Donate your refund to a registered charity, school, sports club or community group.

Recycle Rewards provides Tasmanian charities, community groups, environmental groups, sporting clubs and educational organisations new ways to raise funds.

• Not-for-profit groups can apply to become a Donation Partner and receive refund donations from the community.
• Groups and organisations can host a container collection drive for the public to drop off eligible containers.

This will encourage more community participation and education around recycling while ensuring households, local clubs and groups can share in the cash benefits of recycling their used cans, bottles and cartons.

A Donation Partner is a not-for-profit organisation such as a charity, school, sports club or community organisation that has been ruled eligible to be listed as a Donation Partner and who has set up a payment account with TOMRA Cleanaway Tasmania.

Refunds can be donated to Donation Partners by any person returning an eligible container who chooses to do so.

The Donation Partner registration system is live now to enable organisations to register as a Donation Partner ahead of the scheme commencement on 1 May 2025.

Further information relating to eligibility and the registration process can be found at www.recyclerewards.com.au and you can apply to be registered as a Donation Partner through the registration portal which is open now. We will then determine whether your organisation is eligible (under the relevant regulations) to become a Donation Partner. If your organisation is eligible, you will be provided with a Donation Partner ID.

Once your organisation has been added to the Donation Partner Registry and provided with a Donation Partner ID, you will need to set up a payment account with TOMRA Cleanaway Tasmania to start receiving payments.

For every eligible drink container that your organisation returns you will earn 10 cents.