Queenslanders could soon recycle glass wine and spirit bottles in expanded Containers for Change scheme

Apr 08, 2023

Queenslanders may soon be refunded for recycling wine and spirit bottles as part of the state's Containers for Change program.

The state government today announced it was considering expanding the scheme to include glass wine and spirit bottles.

The expansion hinges on the results of a three-month period of community consultation between December this year and February 2023, and industry feedback.

Since the program was launched in 2018, $5.5 billion containers have been recycled and $540 million in refunds issued.

Currently, people can return eligible containers at one of 350 container refund points for 10 cents per item.

Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel and liquid paperboard drink containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible under the scheme, but glass containers that contained wine or spirits are among the excluded containers.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said before the scheme, about 18 per cent of beverage containers were recycled, but that has increased threefold to 65 per cent due to the scheme.

"We wanted to make sure there was consistency in line with other states and jurisdictions, and what we've seen is New South Wales already signal their intention to change this pace and now we thought we'd do the same," she told ABC Radio Brisbane.

"We don't want New South Wales to beat us as Queenslanders, we want to make sure that we're on par, which is why we are signalling our intention.

"We needed to make sure all of the scheme settings were right when it was brand new, we've got that down-pat now, we'll be able to take on more product."

Ms Scanlon said she hopes the scheme could be expanded "by next year" but that would be dependent on the feedback received in consultation.

She said did not expect there to be any concerns but wanted to "consult properly" with Queenslanders and industry.