Cash-for-trash bottle refund scheme petition presented at Parliament

Tuesday, 4 December 2018

MPs Eugenie Sage, Chloe Swarbrick and Gareth Hughes accept a petition signed by 15,000 New Zealanders calling for the introduction of a cash-for-trash bottle refund scheme.

More than 15,000 Kiwis have signed a petition for the Government to introduce a bottle refund scheme.

On Tuesday a petition was delivered to MPs Eugenie Sage, Chloe Swarbrick and Gareth Hughes on the steps of Parliament with an open letter signed by councils, community recycling and environment networks, beverage companies and marine conservancy groups.

The Kiwi Bottle Drive campaigner Holly Dove said bottle deposits could be the next best thing after banning plastic bags, saving even more plastic from the environment and landfill than the bag ban.

'I love the idea of having a scheme here because it not only protects our beaches and marine life from toxic plastic but it also encourages onshore recycling.'

Holly Dove of the Kiwi Bottle Drive at Cuba Street's bucket fountain filled with plastic bottles on Thursday.

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There were wide community benefits to having a refund for people who returned waste, Dove said, especially in terms of fundraising and job creation.

'It's a win for us and our environment.'

At the presentation, Sage said she remembered using the bottle deposit scheme for a small refund, and using the money to buy sweets.

'I've asked the Ministry to commission some research on it.

'We've got beverage container deposit schemes in Europe, in the United States, and in some states in Australia. The results have been good in some areas, mixed in others.

'We need to ensure that if we introduce a container deposit scheme it is made for New Zealand.'

In Wellington, the Kiwi Bottle Drive filled the Cuba St bucket fountain with bottles on Thursday to mark 'turn the tide on plastic day', and to demonstrate how a bottle deposit scheme could reduce plastic waste.

In action, it would mean higher recycling rates and declining litter, Dove said. 'We hope the government hears our message loud and clear.'