Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) Update

The South Australian Government has been successfully running a Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) to reduce the amount of litter in their environment since 1977.

Since the New South Wales Premier’s announcement in September 2015, the NSW Government has been working towards creating their own, state wide refund CDS.

The containers that will be included in the CDS scheme are currently identified as “[a]ll NSW beverage containers between 150mL and 3 litres in volume” except the following:

Ø  plain milk (or milk substitute) containers;

Ø  flavoured milk containers 1 litre or more;

Ø  pure fruit or vegetable juice containers 1 litre or more;

Ø  glass containers for wine and spirits;

Ø  casks (plastic bladders in boxes) for wine and casks for water – 1 litre or more;

Ø  sachets for wine 250ml or more;

Ø  containers for cordials, concentrated fruit/vegetable juices; and

Ø  registered health tonics.

At this stage, we have very few details on how the CDS scheme will work in practice.

It appears that the finer details are a matter for the appointed Scheme Coordinator to determine with the help of a number of working groups and committees.

What we currently know is that it is proposed that the funding for the 10-cent refund will be provided by the suppliers/manufacturers of the containers who will undoubtedly pass the cost onto consumers.

Suppliers/Manufacturers will pay the 10-cent deposit, a handling fee and an administration fee to the Scheme Coordinator.

Consumers who utilise the CDS will receive a 10-cent refund from the Scheme Coordinator who is responsible for providing the containers received to a recycling facility.

Further, we know that a network of collection depots is to be established throughout NSW. However, we do not know when or where.

It seems that a lot of the finer details are yet to be finalised.

For a scheme that is due to commence from July 2017, one would have to ask – is the NSW government on track to deliver?

There are a number of industries that are affected by the CDS including manufacturers, retailers, transporters, recyclers and not to mention consumers. Perhaps other nearby States that do not have their own CDS have an interest as well.

Whilst the CDS scheme emanates the “polluter pays” principle which can only be good for our environment, we need a CDS that works in and for NSW.

 

 

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