Creating Jobs: Improvements to Northern Territory’s Successful Container Deposit Scheme

TheTerritory Labor Government has considered the recommendations from an independentreview into the Northern Territorys successful Container Deposit Scheme latelast year.

Thereview showed an increase in the number of containers recycled by more than 30%since the scheme’s commencement in 2012, and that it continues to be extremelypopular with Territorians with 83% of Territorians who participated in thereview, considering the scheme successful.

Althoughthe scheme is working well the review highlighted 21 recommendations to improvethe popular scheme further.

Ofthe 21 recommendations made in the report (Evaluation of the Operation ofthe Northern Territory Container Deposit Scheme), the Northern TerritoryGovernment will support 17 in full, two in principle and two others will besubject to further consideration.

Therecommendations fall into five broad categories:

  • Accessibilityto the scheme in regional and remote areas;
  • Broadeningthe scheme to include currently exempt containers (e.g. wine bottles and milkcartons);
  • Reducingthe administrative and regulatory burden on industry, businesses and theregulator;
  • Improvedand targeted community awareness and engagement to ensure the continued successof the scheme;
  • Improveddata collection, analysis and reporting; and
  • Aneed to carry out regular auditing and compliance activities to ensure thescheme is not compromised.

Animplementation plan has been developed which will see the recommendationsrolled out in phases over the next two years, which includes consultation withindustry, and engagement with local government and community organisationsthrough the process.

Quotesfrom the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Eva Lawler:

Protectingour environment creates jobs and good environmental policy like the ContainerDeposit Scheme is smart economic policy for the Territory.

ALabor Government introduced this scheme and we are working to making it evenbetter Protecting our environment and creating jobs.

In2017-18, our scheme put more than $11 million into the pockets of community groups,schools and Territorians.

Thisis a great way for Territorians, community groups, sporting groups and schoolsto raise money while protecting the environment.

Weare making the Territory cleaner, increasing our recycling, removes litter fromlandfill Since 2012 more than half a billion containers have been processedunder the Container Deposit Scheme.

As stated by NarelleAnderson, Founder and Managing Director, Evirobank:

Envirobank has been a network operator forthe Northern Territorys Container Deposit Scheme since its inception in 2012and over that time we have continuously seen volumes increase through ourdepots. Last fiscal year we processed more than 50 million containers in ourDarwin depot alone. When you consider the population of the region, this is aphenomenal effort and we applaud all Territorians for getting involved andprotecting the environment.

We also consistently look for ways to expand our support of the Schemeand have run mobile collections in regional communities in Wagait Beach, Jabiruand East Arnhem. As a result of the success of these collections, and thepartnership with East Arnhem Council in Galiwinku, Envirobank is now workingwith East Arnhem Council to run a series of eight additional collections inother parts of East Arnhem – giving more regional communities access to theScheme.

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