A step in the right direction for a circular Tasmania

Every time you return an eligible drink container in Tasmania, you are doing more than just claiming a refund – you’re taking part in a powerful movement towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Recycle Rewards, Tasmania’s container refund scheme, is already making a meaningful impact. With drink containers making up 45 per cent of the state’s litter, and more than 20 million containers returned in its first few months of operation, this initiative offers a practical and effective, community-driven solution to a growing environmental challenge.

At the heart of this effort is TOMRA Cleanaway, the network operator behind the scheme’s statewide network of collection points.

Drawing on global expertise and cutting-edge technology, we are ensuring that every container returned is responsibly handled, and that Tasmanians can trust the system from start to finish.

A meticulous recycling journey

So, what really happens when you return your container? Whether you drop your bottle into a Reverse Vending Machine or hand it over at a local depot, your container begins a carefully managed journey.

All materials are sorted automatically inside the machine, with glass bottles separated from aluminium and plastics to maintain their quality. Glass is collected as a single stream before being sent to recyclers in Hobart.

Aluminium cans, which make up 63 per cent of returned containers, are baled and shipped to global recyclers such as Novelis in South Korea, while PET plastics are sold to Circular Plastics Australia, where they are transformed into new drink containers. This process ensures your returned containers don’t just disappear – they are given a second life, responsibly and efficiently.

Glass, which accounts for about 15 per cent of all materials collected, presents both challenges and opportunities. While Tasmania currently lacks full bottle-to-bottle recycling capabilities, we are not standing still. Today, returned glass is crushed and reused in construction as a sand substitute a practical, landfill-diverting solution.

Only the beginning of a circular revolution

Our vision is so much bigger. TOMRA Cleanaway is exploring true circular recycling for glass, turning old bottles into new ones, right here in Tasmania. As volumes grow and infrastructure develops, this vision will be pursued.

While some materials are currently processed interstate or overseas, our long-term goal is clear – to help build a true circular economy right here in Tasmania. The upcoming Material Recovery Facility in Launceston, set to open next month, is a major step towards achieving that goal.

Recycle Rewards is more than just a refund scheme – it is a community-powered engine for change. Every eligible container you return is a vote for a cleaner, greener Tasmania, a more sustainable economy, and a future we can all be proud of.

So next time you finish a drink, ask yourself – what happens when I return this container? The answer is simple – you make a positive difference for future generations.