People in NSW will soon be able to claim a 10c refund on their empty drinks bottles and cans – preventing millions of plastic containers from ending up in our forests, beaches, rivers and oceans
This will create a cleaner Australia, and one that’s kinder on our birds and animals. Plastic litter can be deadly for seabirds and other marine life, which is what makes this win so important.
You may have already heard of ‘Cash for Containers’. You buy a drink, and get 10 cents back when you return your empty bottle or can. In Europe, it’s one of the most popular and proven ways to reduce plastic waste, helping achieve recycling rates of up to 97%. And it’s a program that has operated successfully in South Australia for over 30 years, where recycling rates are double those of the rest of the country. NSW will soon enjoy the same benefits.
This nearly didn’t happen. Coca-Cola and their beverage industry buddies fought us all the way, running attack ads, cosying up to politicians and even taking the fight to federal court. Coke thought they could bully and buy their way out of doing the right thing by the planet. But the truth is, no matter how much cash they threw at this, they couldn’t match us.
Over 150,000 people signed petitions, called MPs and funded ads to tell politicians to back ‘Cash for Containers’. Thousands took to their cities, beaches and parks to pick up plastic trash and raise the alarm. We didn’t do it because someone made us; we weren’t doing it for recognition or rewards. It was simply the right thing to do.
Now Premier Mike Baird has listened to our voices and brought ‘Cash for Containers’ to NSW.
This will create a cleaner Australia, and one that’s kinder on our birds and animals. Plastic litter can be deadly for seabirds and other marine life, which is what makes this win so important.
You may have already heard of ‘Cash for Containers’. You buy a drink, and get 10 cents back when you return your empty bottle or can. In Europe, it’s one of the most popular and proven ways to reduce plastic waste, helping achieve recycling rates of up to 97%. And it’s a program that has operated successfully in South Australia for over 30 years, where recycling rates are double those of the rest of the country. NSW will soon enjoy the same benefits.
This nearly didn’t happen. Coca-Cola and their beverage industry buddies fought us all the way, running attack ads, cosying up to politicians and even taking the fight to federal court. Coke thought they could bully and buy their way out of doing the right thing by the planet. But the truth is, no matter how much cash they threw at this, they couldn’t match us.
Over 150,000 people signed petitions, called MPs and funded ads to tell politicians to back ‘Cash for Containers’. Thousands took to their cities, beaches and parks to pick up plastic trash and raise the alarm. We didn’t do it because someone made us; we weren’t doing it for recognition or rewards. It was simply the right thing to do.
Now Premier Mike Baird has listened to our voices and brought ‘Cash for Containers’ to NSW.
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