Interview: The Fight to Revive New Zealand's Container Return Scheme" with The Kiwi Bottle Drive
Over 2.57 billion beverages were consumed by New Zealanders in 2020/21, as reported by the Ministry for the Environment, with less than half of them being recovered for recycling. Gaining momentum for revival, a 'container return scheme' proposes one viable solution.
When you hear the words ‘container return scheme’ in Aotearoa today, you would be forgiven for replying with a blank stare. But in the 1970’s and 80’s - it was commonplace for kids to collect up bottles and cans and cash them in for some pocket money to spend at the dairy. It’s not a new concept, and it's one with heavy backing for return.
Used containers can be returned for reuse or recycling, and a small refund (around 20c) is given.
In 2019, it seemed like it just might return when the New Zealand government announced that it would implement a beverage container return scheme. Earlier this year, however, it was put on hold, much to the dismay of ‘The Kiwi Bottle Drive’. The Kiwi Bottle Drive have been campaigning and advocating for bottle deposits and a CRS since 2017, although their work is, in their own words, a ‘crystallisation of decades of work by Warren Snow, Envision, the Zero Waste Network and others’. We had the opportunity to interview them on their work and all things CRS.
Can you tell us a little about Kiwi Bottle Drive and your campaign for a CRS?
A: The Kiwi Bottle Drive was established with a dual purpose, to be the public-facing campaign championing a CRS, or bottle-deposits (which is challenging right? To make people care and to get them to do something about it), and to keep the pressure on the government to implement a CRS that is well-designed and impactful.
When the Kiwi Bottle Drive started, it was (and still is) a really big mission of ours to get the public on board and educated. Many people (then) had no idea what a container return scheme was and what a pivotal tool a well-designed scheme could be in tackling the waste and climate crises. Many others will remember participating in return schemes (swappa crate, bottle drives to support community initiatives and local milk runs in glass bottles) so it’s important to remember that this isn’t such a radical idea and we can create system-change again.
In those early years, Rowan Brooks, Holly Dove along with Warren and others, led two really fun and engaging campaigns: the original message in a bottle campaign where everyone was encouraged to send in their single-use beverage containers to parliament, and the nation-wide petition urging decision-makers to implement a CRS. We got more than 15,000 signatures!
Why is it important for the beverage CRS to be re-prioritised and what does the de-prioritisation mean for people and planet?
Warren Snow, the name that is most associated with CRS advocacy in Aotearoa and winner of the People’s Choice Award for contribution to the sector at the 2018 WastMINZ conference. Warren sadly passed away in 2022.
Challenge the system - we really need to shift the primary narrative around resource consumption. Currently we are living in a linear system - a make, take, waste economy. For the health of our planet and everything living on it, we urgently need to disrupt this and create more circular systems. Applying product stewardship schemes will help get us there. This means that the onus of responsibility needs to fall on those that are responsible for the introduction and consumption of products. In this case, beverage producers and consumers need to pick up the bill. Not councils, not ratepayers, and certainly not our environment.
Cleaner environment - our current recycling system only achieves around 45% recovery of beverage containers. That leaves 55% that are either landfilled or littered. Incentivising recycling through applying a monetary lever (in this case a 20c deposit at point of sale) is a really powerful tool to create behaviour change and we know, based on a plethora of international research, that a well-designed CRS will lift bottle recovery rates to at least 85%.
It’s cheaper - a CRS is more cost effective than the status quo. Our current system incurs costs at multiple points: kerbside collections and processing, public space recycling, litter clean up, as well as the environmental costs of litter and pollution entering stormwater systems, waterways and oceans etc. About half of all beverage containers are consumed away from home where the only available recycling option is public place recycling systems where as much as 100% of the contents can be sent to landfill. Overall, the costs of the current system costs us more per container than a CRS, for a worse outcome.
It’s a popular and uncontentious policy - 90% of councils support a CRS. Successive surveys show public support for a CRS ranges from 78% - 83% and the policy has multi-party support, including from the National and Green parties.
Tell us about your favourite campaign action you have activated?
A: Definitely our strongest campaign was the 2018 petition to get the CRS on the public and political agenda. We ran so many bottle drives! Getting 30,000 cans and bottles just in Kaitaia was a highlight. But the message in a bottle campaign prior was such a hit that you can see why we’re rolling out version 2.0.
What are the barriers you have come up against in your campaign?
“How do you communicate, educate and encourage action when there’s a growing list of equally important issues that need our attention?”
A: It’s classic, but the power balance has some very real consequences. There are many environmental groups doing work in this space but - classic ENGOs - time, money, resources are in very high demand. Many of us volunteer our time and we are fighting battles on multiple fronts - waste, biodiversity, climate, etc. Alternatively, industry groups who benefit the most from maintaining the status quo, have poured thousands of dollars into lobbying efforts against a container return scheme. The glass industry in particular has really dug their heels in. It was shocking to understand just how unregulated lobbying efforts are in New Zealand compared with similar countries. This was brought to the fore when it was revealed that the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff was the head of the firm that led the liquor industry’s lobbying efforts against the CRS. Less than 6 weeks later he was the PM’s Chief of Staff and the CRS had been de-prioritised!
Other barriers are around making people care. It’s tough! How do you communicate, educate and encourage action when there’s a growing list of equally important issues that need our attention? The comms challenge is real (but fun!)
How can people get involved with or support your campaign right now?
A: Send a message in a bottle to parliament! In conjunction with Greenpeace Aotearoa and the Zero Waste network we are supporting a campaign to get those single use bottles on the doorsteps of decision-makers. But it’s not quite so straightforward as last time (for those that remember), so please make sure you follow the instructions here and tag us all on social media with your posts: Message in a bottle to bring back the container deposit scheme - Greenpeace Aotearoa
The aim of the game is to get a commitment from the incoming government to put the CRS back on the policy agenda within the first 100 days. We need to keep reminding decision-makers that this is a much wanted and needed policy.
What would you say to someone wanting to make a difference in climate legislation?
A: Even something small can help. I know people often think ‘what good is it signing this petition / sending an email / posting on social media / putting a bottle in the mail - it won’t make a difference’, but honestly next to the gargantuan resources of big powerful groups, sometimes people power is all we have. If we can demonstrate through engagement that enough people give a damn about this kind of stuff, that really counts for something. At the end of the day, it’s the job of politicians to listen to the people, and if enough people kick up a fuss they will listen. So please, keep clicking, sharing, talking and posting. You never know the ripple effect of a single action.
Any last words you would like to leave our readers with?
A: A CRS is just one tiny piece of the puzzle. This stuff can feel big and daunting. Find your people. Take comfort in working together. Celebrate the wins. Never give up hope.
How can we find you?
We are most active on Instagram but would welcome your engagement through any platform:
Facebook - The Kiwi Bottle Drive - The Kiwi Bottle Drive | Auckland | Facebook
Instagram - @kiwibottledrive
Website - Overview - The Kiwi Bottle Drive
