The Kiwi Bottle Drive

Zero wastewaste to energyaotearoawastezerowasteright to repairrecyclinggreenwashinguyocircular systemskiwi bittle drive

27 Feb

Sol bottles prepped in a cage for reuse and sterilising

Let us introduce you to the Kiwi Bottle Drive; an initiative designed with the aim to educate the public AND our politicians on the many benefits of a comprehensive Container Return Scheme. The Kiwi Bottle Drive is New Zealand’s campaign for bottle deposits. They have been working alongside communities, councils and organisations for over 20 years to get a bottle deposit scheme and start building a zero waste society. And they are so close!

Against all odds, our government has announced they will be investing in Container Return Scheme’s and bottle deposits right here in NZ. In 2020, an advisory committee was established with the aim of creating an awesome and Aotearoa specific bottle return system. In 2021 the Minister for the Environment received the board’s recommendations and deliberations are in place to kick start a nationwide Container Return Scheme.

bottles placed outside a reverse vending machine waiting for reuse

The Kiwi Bottle Drive are pushing for the perfect Container Return Scheme.

To them this looks like a comprehensive scheme that will achieve high recycling rates and deliver maximum benefits to the community. Unfortunately, industry groups are attempting to take control of the scheme whilst protecting their financial interest and forfeiting what is best for our communities.

The Kiwi Bottle Drive is pushing for a ‘hybrid system’. This involves using a couple of different models simultaneously to ensure we are coming at resource protection from all angles.

a window sign that says we're open in yellow and red

A ‘return to retail’ model is something they hope to utilise - it involves RVM’s or Reverse Vending Machine’s being placed throughout our supermarkets. They will use these to return empty containers in exchange for a monetary deposit or supermarket voucher. To make this a hybrid model they are aiming for a nationwide network of return depots to be established. This will keep our reuse rates at a high level and have the advantage of employing workers to run the scheme in person. With this model we ensure:

Convenience for consumers
Community wellbeing and resilience
New green jobs
Nationwide zero-waste infrastructure
Best chance to achieve the shift towards an entirely closed-loop, circular waste economy

We urge all of our Res.Awesome readers to sign the petition and add your voice to the Kiwi Bottle Drive campaign. We are urging Minister Parker (The Minister for the Environment) to endorse and approve a scheme that is comprehensive, fair and sustainable for the people of Aotearoa and our beautiful environment.