Background

Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) has been a controversial issue for a number of years as it has been considered by many that putting a deposit on a container for its return is simple and easy. In reality the systems and infrastructure necessary for the return of the containers can be complex and costly.

As part of the review of NSW waste legislation, an inquiry was conducted into CDT. The report of the Independent Inquiry into Container Deposit Legislation in NSW by the Institute for Sustainable Futures (TEST) was released on 28 February 2002.

On 10 April 2002 Ms Tucker raised a motion in the ACT Legislative Assembly calling on the Government to:

"1) take note of the independent report on container deposit legislation prepared by the Institute of Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, which was recently released by the NSW Minister for the Environment Mr Bob Debus and

(2) support the establishment of a national container deposit scheme at the National Environment Protection Council"

On 11 April 2002 Simon Corbell MLA, responding on behalf of the Minister for Urban Services gave in principle support, to Ms Tucker's motion.

Following the release of the NSW CDL report there has been considerable debate in the industry about the findings of the study. The CDL report directly conflicts with evidence from other studies carried out on this subject such as the December 2000 report conducted by the Centre for Environmental Solutions (C4ES) on the Impacts of CDL on NSW Recycling and Litter Management Programs.

Access Economics has recently released a Critical Assessment of the Independent Review of Container Deposit Legislation in NSW. This report, which was commissioned by BIEC on behalf of the packaging industry, assesses the analytical merits of the NSW CDL report and finds flaws with the analysis and logical interpretation of the report.

Context

The ACT is in the unique position of combining both local and Territory government functions and has established an effective kerbside recycling service which has a very high participation rate and is valued by the community. The ACT achieves significant and impressive rates of material recovery in the kerbside recycling system which already realise the recovery rates anticipated for many of the beverage containers which are normally targeted under CDL.

CDL has not been introduced anywhere after an effective kerbside recycling service has already been established. Additionally, CDL only targets a limited range of commonly littered materials such as glass and plastic bottles and aluminium cans.