We have received numerous comments and feedback from constituents and have obtained information and responses from CoEx and Departmental staff as follows…
Question – Why are we going to be charged at point of purchase for these containers? And who will hold this huge bucket of money and what will it be used for?
Beverage manufacturers that sell beverages in eligible containers will be required to fund the cost of the Scheme, including the refund amounts paid, as well as operating costs such as costs associated with collecting, sorting, counting and transporting collected materials. To cover their costs, beverage manufacturers may choose to increase the price of their products to retailers. This will be a decision for each beverage manufacturer individually. Members of the public will have the opportunity to exchange containers for the 10 cent refund.
The scheme’s pricing has been established by Container Exchange (Co Ex), which is the not-for-profit Product Responsibility Organisation appointed to run the scheme. They have established the pricing system where the beverage industry will be charged on average 10.2 cents per container. The scheme costs will include the cost of the refund itself, as well as a handling fee for the collection of the containers and small fees associated with transport and processing the containers.
Question – Why are refunds limited to only people who are willing to provide their personal banking details?
You are not required to register to receive a refund. However, as some refund points only provide the refund as an EFT transaction to a nominated bank account you should check to see which refund points near you provide a cash or other payment option. Container refund point operators have the discretion to pay the refund amount as cash or cash-equivalent (e.g. voucher or electronic payment), as well as EFT.
Some depots offer cash and do not require people to have a scheme ID. However, the Scheme ID allows for more options for customers such as bag drops, meaning that customers do not have to wait for their containers to be counted. More sites to be available across Queensland where they don’t have to be manned and can be open 24/7. This also allows convenience for customers so they don’t have to wait for their containers to be counted in front of them.
Question – Why are there so few places to go to get a refund? When will this expand and by how many?
As a condition of its appointment, CoEx ensured that a minimum of 232 container refund points were in operation across Queensland on 1 November. Government understands that 251 points were open when the scheme commenced on November 1, 2018. As part of its contractual conditions, CoEx must also ensure that a minimum of 307 container refund points are in operation across Queensland within 12 months of the launch of the scheme. This is the start of the scheme, and it is expected to grow as more people get involved.
Question – Why did we not use the recycle system widely used in Europe where there is no point of purchase charge and you take the empty item to a vending machine?
Queensland is one the most littered states in Australia, so more measures need to be considered than the European model. There are some Reverse Vending Machines (RVM’s) reflecting this model offering vouchers through some operators in the Queensland scheme. However these machines are very expensive, require ongoing emptying and a certain level of throughput to be of value to the operators and would not work well in some Queensland locations’ due smaller population and vast distances.
There are a range refund points and options, providing scheme participants with a variety of options:
Depots: Will manually or mechanically count the customer’s containers immediately and provide the refund in cash, via EFT, other form of digital payment or retail e-voucher. Or Queenslanders can choose to donate their refund.
Bag drop-offs: Customers can put their containers in a bag and drop it off to a particular container refund point. Some drop-off site operators will provide bags for people to take away with them. The containers will be counted later off-site and the refund will be transferred via EFT using the Customer’s Scheme ID (or a donation point unique ID provided).
Reverse vending machines (RVM): Customers will feed their individual containers into the machine and enter their Scheme ID (or a donation point unique ID provided), receiving payment via EFT.
Mobile or pop-ups: Mobile and pop-ups will usually be operated from a CRP depot. Typical set-up is a trailer with a cage, which can be parked at regional locations for events or functions for community groups or charities.
Donation points: Community groups, charities, sporting clubs and schools can register as a virtual donation point where customers can donate their containers to them using their unique ID. Physical donation points will also be available, allowing customers to take their containers to the physical location of the donation point.
Question – Why do I have to provide my personal details as part of the Recycling Scheme ID?
You are not required to register to receive a refund. However, you should check to see which refund points near you provide a cash or other payment option. The business model in operation at most locations allows customers to use the more convenient model of dropping off their containers and receiving their refunds through EFT into their bank account. There are some locations were customers can receive cash, so you do not have to have a Scheme ID.
This information is available on the website, including the locations of all refund points, payment type, opening hours etc. https://www.containersforchange.com.au/faqs
Question – Is COEX subsidised by tax payers money? If so, how much?
The Government invested $1.5 million from the current budget to get the scheme off the ground. Other than this, the scheme is self-funding and administered by the not-for-profit COEX.