{"id":1207,"date":"2026-06-10T05:29:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T05:29:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hostingnucleo.com\/bettercup\/?p=1207"},"modified":"2026-09-03T04:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T04:13:17","slug":"beyond-recycling-why-epr-in-australia-and-new-zealand-must-prioritise-reuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hostingnucleo.com\/bettercup\/bettercup-blog\/beyond-recycling-why-epr-in-australia-and-new-zealand-must-prioritise-reuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond Recycling: Why EPR in Australia and New Zealand Must Prioritise Reuse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The latest report from Upstream<\/a> makes a bold call: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes need to prioritise reuse over recycling if we want real change in packaging waste.<\/strong> It argues that while recycling has dominated the conversation for decades, true waste reduction comes from designing packaging to be used again and again, not just collected and reprocessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This shift feels especially relevant for Australia and New Zealand, where EPR and product stewardship schemes have, to date, mostly followed a recycling-first approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) 2030 Strategic Plan<\/a> touches on reuse as part of the solution, but like many other strategies, it still leans heavily on optimising recycling and increasing recycled content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what would it take for reuse to move from a secondary focus to the main priority?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Funding Reuse Like We Fund Recycling.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest takeaways from the Upstream report is that reuse can\u2019t scale without proper infrastructure: <\/strong>collection points, washing hubs, and logistics for returnable packaging.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Image<\/em> Source: Upstream Solutions<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a point that resonates in Australia and New Zealand. Millions have been invested in recycling infrastructure, from material recovery facilities to plastic processing plants. But where\u2019s the equivalent level of funding for reuse!?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

APCO\u2019s strategy does acknowledge this gap, recognising that reuse systems need investment to expand, particularly in B2B packaging (such as reusable crates and pallets). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But consumer-facing reuse\u2014think returnable takeaway packaging, reusable beverage cups, and standardised refillable grocery packaging\u2014is still in pilot mode, rather than being backed by large-scale funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, France\u2019s CITEO system<\/u><\/a> has committed 5% of its packaging EPR budget\u2014over $50 million in 2023 alone\u2014specifically to reuse infrastructure. This kind of dedicated funding is what\u2019s needed to take reuse beyond small-scale trials and into the mainstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Making Reuse the Financially Smart Choice.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Upstream Solutions<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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One of the most interesting parts of the Upstream report is its push for EPR fees to be structured in a way that makes reuse the more attractive option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, single-use packaging is cheaper upfront and more convenient for businesses than reusable alternatives. This is because the costs of waste collection, recycling, and landfill disposal are often absorbed by councils and taxpayers, while the full cost of reuse\u2014washing, logistics, and managing returns\u2014is placed on individual businesses trying to do the right thing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

APCO has proposed to introduce eco-modulated fees, where businesses pay more for packaging that is harder to recycle. If these fees are designed well, they could help shift the balance by making single-use more expensive and reuse more financially viable. But will that go far enough?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Upstream report suggests that reuse systems should always be the cheapest option in an EPR scheme, encouraging businesses to transition by making it the most cost-effective choice, not just the most sustainable one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From Recycling-First to Reuse-First.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Image: On-site wash station at the WOMADelaide Festival 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Unlike the U.S., where EPR is still in its infancy, Australia and New Zealand have spent years building up recycling infrastructure and improving collection systems, but reuse is still emerging as a focus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While both countries acknowledge the need for reuse, most investment and policy work have historically centred on better recycling, not reducing packaging waste through scalable reuse systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

If we actually want to change this, we need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n