The Container Deposit Scheme is moving to cash in more than just cans!
The site tour of the Envirobank collection depot in Pinelands was packed full of information about how the scheme is performing and demonstrations of how the machinery collects, sorts and crushes the containers for transport and recycling.
Collection depots are the public entry point for the Territory’s container deposit scheme (scheme), where Territorians can claim 10 cent refunds on empty eligible containers. We have been working with Territorians on proposed reforms to expand and simplify the scheme, and public feedback is currently being considered by the government.
Narelle Anderson, the founder and managing director of Envirobank Recycling and Andrew Lee, NT General Manager showed us through the facility and explained how, once eligible containers are received from the public, the depot processes them into one of two different electronic sorting machines that read the container barcodes.
They channel through to dedicated bins for each material (e.g. aluminium, glass by colour, plastic types) to be weighed, then loaded to a machine to be crushed and bailed, ready for transport to a recycler.
The image below summarises the process.
You can also view some of the video we took which shows the machines in operation as materials are returned by consumers to the collection depot, sorted at the depot by their material type and how the containers are bailed and packaged ready to be transported for sale and recycling into new materials.
Public consultation on a discussion paper to improve the scheme was held in March and April of this year and received 31 submissions from individuals, environmental organisations, industry and business organisations, and local government.
You can read the consultation summary on the feedback on Have Your Say NT where comments were made around the discussion papers 3 proposed changes.
These changes were to:
- simplify and expand the scope of eligible containers
- improve scheme data and reporting
- incentivise container returns by setting targets.
The feedback and recommendations inform the department, and are with the government for consideration.
There is undoubtedly more work that can be done in this area. Container return rates in urban areas of the Territory are quite strong, however remote areas have logistic issues of transporting and storing containers to collection depots.
Progress has been made in this space to boost remote collection with the recycling modernisation fund, to support infrastructure projects that can recover or recycle waste material that are subject to export bans.
Other work is underway with how to reduce logistic issues for remote towns to participate affordably in schemes such as the container deposit scheme.
In the meantime, once government has considered the consultation feedback, we will continue to work on the improvements to the scheme and are working to the final scheme announced with a community awareness campaign roll out next year.
While the legislative work is being done, there is so much you can do to support the scheme and a healthier Australia and Northern Territory.
Watch this space.