Launceston has proven to be a powerhouse recycling city, with the Recycle Rewards Waverley depot and Prospect Vale refund point each surpassing one million eligible containers returned this week.
The achievement comes on the back of one million containers already returned at the Mowbray and Meadow Mews refund points in early August. Every bottle, can and carton returned means less litter, cleaner streets and more resources recovered.
The milestone demonstrates how committed the Launceston community is to keeping containers out of landfill and putting them into the circular economy, where they can be recycled into new drink containers and other products in as little as eight weeks.
According to TasRecycle CEO Ken Roughley, “The successes we’ve seen in Launceston in the first few months of our container refund scheme is proof that when you make recycling convenient and rewarding, people embrace it. It’s been incredible to see how these return points have become part of people’s weekly routines – and the flow-on benefits to local charities through donations are heart-warming.”
The Waverley depot, operated by social enterprise Launceston City Mission, opened at the end of June. Providing care and assistance to people experience hardship and disadvantage for more than 170 years, Launceston City Mission’s Recycle Rewards Waverley depot offers a fast and friendly drive-through service for bulk returns as well as container collection services for businesses, schools and events.
The Prospect Vale reverse vending machine is the tenth refund point to surpass one million containers.
Approaching four months since Recycle Rewards began, Tasmanians are continuing to embrace the scheme. Statewide eligible container returns currently average more than 230,000 per day and growing, with more than 26 million eligible containers already returned. Eight million of those returns have been made in the north of the state. Devonport in the northwest remains the state’s busiest site, with nearly two million eligible containers returned.
Aluminium continues to be the top material returned, accounting for 63% of returns. PET plastic made up about 21%, glass 15% and liquid paperboard carton and other materials about 1%.
Tasmanians are encouraged to continue to recycle their eligible drink containers at more than 40 convenient and accessible refund points across the state, including on King and Flinders Islands. Every eligible drink container returned receives a 10c refund, which you can keep for yourself or donate to a local charity or community group.
Visit recyclerewards.com.au for more information about Recycle Rewards, including container eligibility, refund point locations, signing up as a Donation Partner and how to make the most of your fundraising effort.