"Many people don’t realise bottled water costs an average of $2.50 a litre, - more than petrol!", says founder Ian Kiernan.  His evidence for giving up the habit is compelling. If you usually buy a bottle of water each day, you could save $1200 a year. 

He'd love to give us all a better reason to recycle the pesky containers, yet every state and territory government - except South Australia - refuses to employ the popular refund scheme.  

The illusive 5c bottle refunds 

South Australia has long been the only state to have a refund scheme for drink bottles and cans, where they pay 5 cents per can or bottle handed in.

For many Australians, the reminder printed on every soft drink or water bottle highlights the fact no other state has offered any incentive to recycle.

The scheme has proven hugely successful, with an average of 15 recyclable bottles found on ever Clean Up site in NSW and Victoria, while South Australia had an average of only four.

As yet there are few movements by other states toward this model. A spokesperson for NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, Adam Cooke, says NSW won't act until the Federal government does. "Such schemes have to be done nationally," he told Sunrise.

He says there is an agreement among the states that any further recycling initiative will not be limited to one state. "The SA scheme predates this agreement," he says.

NSW takes solace in the statistics showing an increasing level of recycling at industry and domestic level. 

The next phase

Clean Up would also like to see a greater number of recycling bins in public areas and for people to fill up their water bottles rather than buy a new one each day.

And the revolution doesn't stop there.   With the federal government delaying their ban on free plastic bags until the year's end, Clean Up also wants communities to introduce their own ban on plastic bags.

Clean up your diary with these dates

Clean Up Australia Day - Sunday March 2
Business Clean Up Day - Tuesday February 26
Schools Clean Up Day - Friday February 29

More info 

www.cleanup.org.au 

Yahoo!7 GREEN - for more recycling ideas