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Cash for cans scheme, good idea?

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Re: cash for cans scheme, good idea ?

To my understanding there has been a lot of lobbying and even legal threats from drink manufacturers opposed to the idea.

Personally though I think it's not a bad idea at all. Only downside I'm aware of in SA is that if you sit on a bench or anywhere that just happens to have a bin nearby, well sooner or later (usually sooner) someone comes along and starts rummaging through the bin to take the bottles and cans. Seriously, that happens quite a bit even in the CBD.

On a positive side, I've seen it used to raise money for charity at major events. All recyclables, anything with the deposit, goes into the recycling bins and whatever $ that brings in goes to the charity. Can't recall who the money was for but it seemed legit.

A very long time ago an empty Coke bottle (glass in those days) used to be worth 20c here in Tas. That was a long time ago though and back in those days the bottles were re-used as such (not crushed or melted down, simply washed and refilled). The world was different back then though, if that was done today then all sorts of "dangers" would be found no doubt but I don't think it killed anyone back then. Milk bottles were re-used in the same manner - just washed and filled.
 
Re: cash for cans scheme, good idea ?


I think people rummaging through bins is a far better outcome, than sitting on the footpath with a please give me money placard.



I remember those days well, a wine flagon was worth 50cents, that was the El Dorado.
 
Re: cash for cans scheme, good idea ?


I spend a bit of time in Latin America for business these days, where bottles are still reused (not melted down, just washed). You basically pay a deposit that's refunded when you return the bottle. I was a little shocked the first time someone asked for their soft drink "en un bolsa" and the shopkeeper proceeded to pour the drink into a plastic bag so they didn't have to pay the bottle deposit. I'm guessing the bag went straight to landfill.
 
Re: cash for cans scheme, good idea ?


First Uber, now 10c a can.

The politicians are pulling all nighters for jobs and the environment alright.

99% of cans, plastics and papers collected (from any bin) are practically recycled - waste stations are designed almost specifically to sort and collect these from the mix.

So putting 10c on a can won't encourage much more recycling than the current rate.

It might save on the sorting when schools and charities collect them to raise money; maybe give the kids a feeling of having done something good...

The real costs will be to consumers having to fork up extra for the cans. Also help pay for the recyclers too.
 
Re: cash for cans scheme, good idea ?


Actually Iuutzu, the recycling part doesn't worry me too much.
I find the amount of crap on the side of the road, and the amount of used containers, just thrown into the side of the paths is a disgrace.

This morning my wife and I were taking our dog for a walk, we happened to be walking behind an obviously homeless young couple.
When they finished the cool drinks they were drinking, they just threw them to the side of the pavement.
It wasn't as though there weren't bins available, just they weren't interested.
Maybe if there was some financial advantage, they would have haded them in, rather than have tax payers fund the purchase and recovery.
 
Re: cash for cans scheme, good idea ?


Works well sptrawler.

Here in SA where the refund has been in existence for ages the rubbish problem gets a significant help by people who collect cans, bottles and iced coffee cartons etc.
At the local footy on the mound we just crush the empty beer cans under foot and within minutes kids are scrambling to pick them up. At Adelaide airport there is a little asian lady who goes through all the outside bins a couple of times a day, fills a green plastic bag and then a BMW drives by to collect and gives her a new bag.

We have a spare green sulo bin in the shed just for crushed cans and cartons (glass bottles go in a crate) that fills up quickly and is worth usually between $35 and $45 each time. A great way to give kids pocket money or in my case we alternate between a slab of beer for me or a bottle of vodka for the fun police.

A great concept imo.
 
sptrawler, boggo, ...
I totally agree. The rubbish around sports grounds, fast food joints, and generally along roadside is a disgrace. I doubt however that a 5c or 20c "deposit" will be sufficient incentive to clean up the mess. For cans, glass, and plastic containers, I'd happily agree to a $1 per item surcharge. Obviously, the collection stations would then need to install some kind of security system to avoid temptation of repetitive cycles of recycling.

Not sure what to do about the littering of empty Chicken Treat or McDonalds cardboard boxes and waxed drinks containers. The more coffee joints set up shop in community centres, the bigger that problem becomes. Since most of their clients are repeat customers, they could be charged a similar amount unless they return the container/s from their last visit.

Normally, it shouldn't have become the problem it is, if only parents had the decency to teach their kids respect for the environment and habitually take any rubbish back home. But as a Nation, we have let it slip for far too long, so it's now a generational problem with parents unaware of their own bad example and sloppiness.
 
Re: cash for cans scheme, good idea ?


consumers will all have to pay 10c extra a piece, but not all consumers will get that 10c a piece back.

Sure it keep a few homeless people busy collecting, a few school charities... but end result is that consumers pay up and the recyclers and council get an extra helping.

I guess you don't need to hide extra taxes when you could sell it as good for the little guys and good for the environment.
 
I am not a fan.

All I can see happening is that I get charged and extra 10c for my drinks, and the only way to get my 10c back is to drive my car to a collection point rather than just put the bottle/can in my nearest recycle bin.

Obviously I probably wouldn't be doing that, so I will put it in my nearest recycle bin, and some kid will probably raid the bin, get the bottle and he will get the 10cents, for doing nothing other than removing the bottle from one recycling option to another.

I can just see it encouraging neighbor hood kids to go through peoples bins on bin night.

Are bottles and cans really the main litter problem? most of the litter I see is takeaway containers, plastic bags and other stuff.
 

It's a tax dressed up as being a measure to help the environment. I can't say where I live in Sydney has a problem with litter. In fact I don't think I ever see any litter. Period.
 

Yes how is that issue avoided? As a kid or homeless person it would be far more efficient to go through someone's recycling bin then to find individual cans on the ground.
 
Re: cash for cans scheme, good idea ?

sptrawler said:
, rather than have tax payers fund the purchase and recovery.
Click to expand...

Most people buying drinks would be tax payers wouldn't they?

adding a levy of 10c to every drink I buy (even though mine go to recycling already) is creating a special extra tax I have to pay, just so the neighbors kids can raid my recycle bin and get some extra money for lollies, which they then may unwrapped and throw the wrappers on the ground.
 
Re: cash for cans scheme, good idea ?


I thought you were a supporter of free enterprise VC ?



We had deposits on bottles and cans when I was a kid and a lot of kids earned pocket money for them. I see no harm in it, unless they spend the proceeds on drugs, but if they are not knocking over old ladies and raiding their handbags that's a plus.
 
Re: cash for cans scheme, good idea ?


That's all good for the kids diving for cash; What about the kids who didn't get the memo and will now have to pay extra for the coke and milk?

This is a double tax if you think about it.

One is the initial 10c to vendors; Two is the extra 10c to recyling companies/council when they got to the bins before the kids did.

It's also doubtful the vendors will just add only 10c.. .they'll hide their hike with this new added cost too;

Also doubtful the recyclers will pass on the extra cash they now get to keep from doing their usual job.
 
Re: cash for cans scheme, good idea ?

SirRumpole said:
I thought you were a supporter of free enterprise VC ?



.
Click to expand...

This is just really creating a new tax to give children and homeless people extra income, for doing nothing but double handling material.

We had deposits on bottles and cans when I was a kid and a lot of kids earned pocket money for them. I see no harm in it, unless they spend the proceeds on drugs, but if they are not knocking over old ladies and raiding their handbags that's a plus
Click to expand...

Creating an incentive for children to go through bins can be harmful,

As I pointed out it is not really creating value, the bottles and cans already in bins are going to recycling anyway, we are just creating an incentive for children to go through bins or steal bottles from other legitimate collection points.
 
It's an old story. A deposit fee on containers will result in far more recycling of materials. But that is awkward for Beverage suppliers who don't really want to be mucking around with empty cans/bottles.

They prefer earnest (cheap) education programs that might or (usually might not) work.

Money does talk. And kids are great seagulls when it comes to sniffing out 10c a container.
 
basilio said:
Money does talk. And kids are great seagulls when it comes to sniffing out 10c a container.
Click to expand...

Yes, so soon we will all be paying for the privilege of having kids rummaging through our bins, and creating a double handling system.

It seems so dumb, at the moment I recycle my bottles for free, I don't charge anyone anything, I just finish my drink and put the bottle in the recycling, now you want to charge me 10cents, so that some one can remove it from my recycling bin, take it to a second place, collect my 10cents and then Send it to the recycling centre.

Most of the bottles that will be paid for under this system, are currently being returned and recycled for free.
 


Closet socialist?
 
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