Cash-for cans plan meeting canned

Nick Toscano
December 2, 2013

The Napthine government remains firm in its support of a national cash-for-cans recycling scheme, despite a warning from the drinks industry that it will add $3 to the cost of a slab of beer.

State and territory ministers were scheduled to decide this week whether to approve the hotly contested proposal for an Australia-wide scheme.

But the highly anticipated Council of Australian Governments environment meeting was called off over a clash with a Parliament sitting day, with federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt unable to say when the next meeting would be held.

Under a container deposit system, consumers would be given a 10¢ refund when they return a bottle or can to a depot, as is the case in SA and the NT.

Advertisement
A national scheme could divert more than 740,000 tonnes from landfill, lead to a 12 to 15 per cent drop in litter and raise $90 million in government revenue, according to a 2012 senate inquiry.

Premier Denis Napthine, a vocal advocate of cash-for-cans, has drawn praise from green groups after reaffirming Victoria’s commitment to the scheme.

But alcohol and soft drink companies continue lobbying MPs in Victoria and NSW, fearing that either state might implement stand-alone schemes if the national plan falls through.

Carlton & United Breweries said it was rattled by the prospect of stand-alone schemes. ”There is a legitimate concern by all the supply side on a stand-alone NSW and Victorian deposit scheme,” CUB spokesman Jeremy Griffith said. ”A state-based scheme is the worst outcome for Victorian manufacturing,” he said.

The Australian Food and Grocery Council – whose board members include drink company representatives – has run cross-media advertisements, slamming the scheme as ”another carbon tax”.

Read more: