CONTAINER DEPOSITS KICK ARSE

Tuesday, 25 August 2009 21:40

“The cost of CD to consumers will be a miniscule 0.4 cents a container, and the system is expected to create some 2,000 jobs and a net yearly saving to governments of at least $83 million,” TEC will tell a Senate Inquiry into Environment Protection (Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme) Bill 2009, at a hearing in Melbourne today.

“The only cost will be to those who don’t retrieve their deposit, i.e. those who choose to either landfill, litter or donate their deposit,” said Jeff Angel, Director of TEC. 

“Nationally we estimate that CD will inject approx. $100mill p.a. into the economy and increase the Australian tax wedge by some $36milion p.a.,” said Angel.

More importantly CD will finance a second tier recycling system, in addition to kerbside, with hundreds of local hubs that can receive problem materials such as e-waste and batteries.

“CD has the potential to kick-start the most substantial investment in
recycling that Australia is likely to see, serving the community and the environment for decades to come,” said Angel.