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South Australians recycle record numbers of drink containers

South Australians are recycling more drink containers than ever before

South Australians are recycling more drink containers than ever before with the latest figures showing that return rates have increased significantly in the past financial year.

Environment and Conservation Minister Paul Caica today released figures showing the return rate for all beverage containers increased by 5.6 per cent in the past financial year to an overall record high of 80.1 per cent.

The return rate for all drink containers has also increased by 14.6 per cent in the past two years.

Mr Caica said it was fantastic to see that there had been a 64 per cent increase in the return rate for containers mainly used for flavoured milk and fruit juice in the past two years, as consumers become more aware of the range of containers they can recycle.

Mr Caica said the improved return rates clearly coincided with the increase in the refund for drink containers from 5c to 10c that was introduced in September 2008.

"In real terms this means, that in the past financial year 49,800 tonnes of beverage containers were recycled and diverted from landfill,'' he said.

"Since the refund was increased, approximately 1.125 billion beverage containers have been returned to recycling depots for a refund, representing more than $112.5 million going back into the pockets of the community.

"Since the refund was increased we have also seen more than 91,300 tonnes of containers diverted from landfill.

"Increasing the refund has proved to be an extremely positive move and these latest figures show that South Australians are really embracing the State Government's container deposit legislation scheme which is great news for the community and of course great news for the environment.''

Mr Caica today urged all other states to consider implementing a similar scheme.

"These latest figures prove that our container deposit scheme is one of the most successful litter management and recycling schemes in Australia, and I am very pleased that the Northern Territory has made a commitment to implement its own container deposit scheme,'' he said.

"South Australia has led the way in this area for more than 30 years and I believe the container deposit scheme should be rolled out across Australia.

"I will continue to lobby my interstate colleagues to implement a container deposit scheme.

"Through the scheme, not only do we see the benefits of litter reduction, but we have a resource recovery system that complements kerbside recycling and makes us national leaders."

Other return rates for 2009-10 include: • Glass up 5.8 per cent to 84.3 per cent. • Aluminium up 8.3 per cent to 85.6 per cent. • PET up 10.3 per cent to 73.9 per cent.

Container deposits were introduced in South Australia in 1977 and are an example of the State's ongoing environmental leadership.