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Thread ID: 146026 2018-04-03 20:32:00 Plastic bottle refund recycle idea Greg (193) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1448071 2018-04-03 20:32:00 I just heard that Tauranga is proposing to trial a refund scheme whereby you pay a small deposit with bottle of drink, then get it refunded when you return the bottle.

Its a wonderful scheme I reckon!!! The guy showed on tv was gushing this morning on the multitude benefits of this scheme.

But I can see a few possible hiccups before it goes ahead; will retailers refund bottles from other stores? And the two refund cost price options they mentioned so far, (which is more delicate for at least the packing industry!). They're both lousy options! But a third issue comes to mind; what will the impact be on alternative packers? Their own problems which will no doubt be attributable to the impact of more and more non-plastic containers?
Greg (193)
1448072 2018-04-03 21:07:00 I just heard that Tauranga is proposing to trial a refund scheme whereby you pay a small deposit with bottle of drink, then get it refunded when you return the bottle.
?

Once upon a time, kids ran around collecting bottles etc and took them back and got money. No pay it first, get it back stuff. Just money to recycle
piroska (17583)
1448073 2018-04-03 21:23:00 Once upon a time, kids ran around collecting bottles etc and took them back and got money. No pay it first, get it back stuff. Just money to recycle

That's right, but in those days they were glass bottles. It's not a new idea.
Roscoe (6288)
1448074 2018-04-03 22:29:00 Trouble is who pays for it. The sad truth is that it's cheaper to make a new bottle than collect and recycle an old one. That's why they stopped paying for glass bottles as well, it was costing too much.
It occurs to me that I don't actually know if this is true, it's just what I remember from some long forgotten source. Anyway I'm all for recycling but it may end up raising the cost of things so be prepared for that.
dugimodo (138)
1448075 2018-04-03 23:25:00 Just add 10c , 50c to the cost . Then use part of that as a refund for the empty
If you can afford to waste $3-$5 on a bottle of water, a bit more cost shouldnt matter.

There will be plenty of hidden costs. Shop owners will need to hold more change to pay for the refunds
Shop owners will need to find a way for storage & collection
Then they need to actually do something with it .

We need to be honest about what happens with all the collected cans, plastic etc
Sending it overseas or storing it all in warehouses is not recycling. Its just hiding the issue & letting us feel good about it.

Its waste . Dirty waste . Recycling can be a very dirty, polluting industry .
Its not really wanted by anyone , especially not in the quantities that would be involved.
1101 (13337)
1448076 2018-04-03 23:39:00 Remember collecting bottles as a Kid early 60's think a Lemonade bottle was sixpence and Beer Bottles were 1 penny

See 25 pence in 1963 was worth in todays money $10.50

www.rbnz.govt.nz
Lawrence (2987)
1448077 2018-04-03 23:52:00 Trouble is who pays for it. The sad truth is that it's cheaper to make a new bottle than collect and recycle an old one. That's why they stopped paying for glass bottles as well, it was costing too much.
It occurs to me that I don't actually know if this is true, it's just what I remember from some long forgotten source. Anyway I'm all for recycling but it may end up raising the cost of things so be prepared for that.

Nah that problem could potentially easily be sorted by determining the correct refund price.
Greg (193)
1448078 2018-04-04 00:06:00 Nah that problem could potentially easily be sorted by determining the correct refund price.

It's not the refund price that makes it expensive, it's everything else involved in recycling plastics. You would have to charge more up front to cover the cost of recycling and the refund price in order for it to make economical sense for manufacturers.
Like 1101 touched on recycling has been shown to be a feel good option with little actual benefit in some cases. There may or may not be an environmental benefit, there will not be an economic one IMHO.
dugimodo (138)
1448079 2018-04-04 01:01:00 It's not the refund price that makes it expensive, it's everything else involved in recycling plastics. You would have to charge more up front to cover the cost of recycling and the refund price in order for it to make economical sense for manufacturers.
Like 1101 touched on recycling has been shown to be a feel good option with little actual benefit in some cases. There may or may not be an environmental benefit, there will not be an economic one IMHO.

The economic benefit is that the consumer wanting the plastic container (albeit for a very short time) will pay the cost of disposal for that container instead of tax or ratepayers getting loaded with it. If somebody wants to recycle the plastic, they can buy the containers and collect the refund. Also, a small army of administrators, consultants, and serfs could be kept off the streets as they administer, consult, go serfing and consume coffee (out of non-disposable cups).
;)
R2x1 (4628)
1448080 2018-04-04 03:01:00 LOL R2x1, crystal clear vision. zqwerty (97)
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