After years of campaigning by people and community groups, a Container Return Scheme was about to happen. But it’s been deferred by the government.

Greenpeace have launched a petition calling for the Container Return Scheme to be returned. You can add your name here.

This scheme will have enormous benefits for iwi and hapū, for our community (especially the kids) and our environment, it would mean higher recycling rates, more reuse and refill opportunities, a decrease in litter and new green jobs in local communities.

The simple act of putting a small, refundable deposit on all beverages could lift New Zealand’s beverage container return rates to 85 percent or higher. This would mean more beverage containers will be recycled, or better yet, reused again.

See also this information about the scheme from the Ministry for the Environment.

Image: Ministry for the Environment