New South Wales councils are set to save millions in recycling costs while fighting back against environmental harm, with the introduction of a state-wide container recycling scheme.

President of Local Government NSW (LGNSW), Cr Keith Rhoades, said NSW councils have been lobbying for the introduction of a container deposit scheme for many years.

But such efforts are often resisted by the super-rich companies that sell canned drinks, which are opposed to having to pay to collect their waste. 

“Discarded beverage containers continue to pose a real problem for rural, regional and metropolitan communities – both environmentally and financially,” said Cr Rhoades.

“A container deposit scheme [CDS] will help decrease the number of recyclable containers ending up in landfill, save millions of dollars in clean-up costs for councils and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

“Importantly, it will help protect local wildlife – particularly marine animals that often get caught in packaging or ingest plastic pollution discarded in our ocean.

“Container deposit systems are also a cost-effective, high-return system that has proven itself in the US, Canada and Europe, as well as Australia.

“South Australia has increased their container recycling rate by up to 80 per cent since the introduction of a container deposit scheme, compared to only 40 per cent in NSW.

“There is plenty of existing infrastructure that can easily be adapted to accept containers and new methods of container collection, such as reverse vending machines, will make it increasingly simple for the community to redeem the 10 cent container deposit.

“A CDS will also provide another avenue for local community groups and schools to raise money, as well as educating children from an early age on the environmental benefits of recycling.

“I’m heartened that the Government stood firm in the face of a concerted anti-CDS campaign by the beverage and packaging industries, which produce and sell these non-biodegradable products.

“However container deposit schemes are not only about making the beverage and packaging industries more responsible. It’s also about shifting responsibility to do the right thing environmentally on to the individual who purchases a recyclable container.

“Recycle your used containers, get some cash and do the environment a favour – simple!

“It’s time to put our environment and local wildlife ahead of corporate profits.

“NSW councils and LGNSW look forward to further details of the roll-out and implementation of a container deposit scheme in NSW,” said Cr Rhoades.