Following the establishment of TasRecycle by Coca-Cola Amatil and Lion, the Greens are calling on the Tasmanian Government to rule out handing control of the container deposit scheme to the beverage industry.
“The Greens strongly urge the State Government to adopt the New South Wales model for container deposit in Tasmania. It reduces the role and power of beverage companies within such schemes.
“The New South Wales scheme has proven to be the gold standard for state-based CDS. An industry-run scheme would be the worst-case scenario for container deposit in Tasmania.
“The model that industry prefers is a scheme where they keep any refunds or premiums paid at the point of sale that are not later claimed by consumers. Obviously, this is lucrative for those companies – but it’s the worst model for the community and environment.
“Tasmania has already waited too long for a cash-for-containers scheme. Now it is finally moving closer to reality, the Government needs to ensure it will be as convenient as possible for people to recycle.
“This can’t be another example of the Liberals looking after industry, at the expense of the environment and the community.”
“It’s disappointing to see an early pitch from Coca-Cola Amatil to run the proposed Tasmanian container deposit scheme.
“Handing control to industry risks lower recycling rates than a government-managed scheme with multinationals more focused on protecting their massive profits, rather than environmental outcomes and community good.
“Tasmania is taking an inordinate amount of time to plan and roll out our scheme so it would be very disappointing if we were to give in to the lobbying and interests of big business at this crucial point.
“After years of actively opposing container deposit legislation, including taking the Northern Territory Government to the High Court in 2013 in a bid to dismantle its scheme, the beverage industry now wants to help run these schemes.
“It is not in the beverage industry’s commercial interests to have high recycling rates or, alternatively, to have all deposits or premiums returned and paid to consumers.
“Evidence from the Queensland scheme, which is run by big beverage companies, suggests their commercial interests are ultimately not aligned to the public good. Whereas the New South Wales scheme, which is government-managed, has more depots, vending machines, refunds and higher recycling rates, because industry is hands off.”
