This World Environment Day focuses on ending plastic pollution, a pressing issue that costs the world up to US$600 billion annually, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. With more than 10 million metric tonnes of plastic going into the ocean each year, plastic pollution affects everyone. It infiltrates our environment, the water we drink, the food we eat, and even our bodies.
However, the challenge of plastic pollution is not insurmountable. Tasmanians can help by reducing, reusing, recycling and rethinking their use of plastics. Recent data offers a glimmer of hope: a 2025 CSIRO report found that overall plastic pollution on Australian beaches and coasts is decreasing – except in Tasmania. The study identified beverage containers were the most common litter locally. At the time of the study, Tasmania was the only Australian jurisdiction without a container refund scheme.
Recycle Rewards Major Donation Partner Landcare is working hard to reduce plastic pollution and keep our beautiful state in a beautiful state. Landcare members and clean-up group Litter Free Launnie has removed more than 4000kgs of litter during its weekly cleanups in the Launceston area – much of it eligible drink containers.
Landcare Tasmania chair Bill Harvey has been working on reducing plastics pollution for decades. “In that time, plastics recycling has never hit double digits. Currently just 9% of the world’s plastic is recycled. The rest ends up as litter in the environment or in landfill. Avoid it if you can. Recycle it if you can’t.”
This is where Recycle Rewards comes in. By incentivising recycling, we can prevent containers from ending up as litter in our environment and causing harm to vulnerable wildlife. Every eligible drink container returned earns a 10 cent refund, which can be kept or donated to more than 300 local charities or community groups.
Since the launch of Recycle Rewards on 1 May, Tasmanians have recycled more than six million containers through a network of more than 40 refund points across the state, including on King and Flinders Islands. The busiest refund point is in Devonport, followed by Claremont, Bridgewater, Mowbray and Kingston.
“Six million eligible containers returned in one month is a terrific achievement for all Tasmanians and our unique environment too,” said TasRecycle CEO Ken Roughley. “By valuing recyclables, we can reduce litter, increase recycling, and even create new economic opportunities by turning drink containers into new recycled products. When we all do our bit, change adds up quick.”
Aluminium remains the top material returned, accounting for approximately 65% of returns, while plastics make up about 20%, glass 13%, and liquid paperboard cartons about 2%.
“Drink containers make up almost half of Tasmania’s litter by volume,” said TOMRA Cleanaway CEO James Dorney. “TOMRA Cleanaway is proud to maintain a network of state-of-the-art refund points that make it easy for Tasmanians to keep litter out of the environment and get a 10-cent refund for every eligible drink container returned.”
Visit recyclerewards.com.au for more information about Recycle Rewards, including container eligibility, refund point locations, and how to support community groups in their fundraising efforts.