BEVERAGE COMPANIES TALK NONSENSE

Monday, 02 November 2009 14:32

Claims by beverage companies that consumers will be hit by the costs of a container deposits scheme are utter nonsense, Total Environment Centre said today.

“This is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. The latest economic analysis commissioned by Australia’s environment ministers found that the cost of beverages could rise by half a cent a container,” said Jeff Angel, Director of Total Environment Centre.

“And that was by a study we think inflated the costs of a scheme and undervalued the benefits.”

Beverage companies are saying that people would not bother to redeem the ten cent deposit and would thus bear the cost.

“That too is nonsense as actual operating schemes have about 80% participation in South Australia and overseas. Consumers do want their money back. Another strong piece of evidence is that in the last three months Alice Springs has had a 5 cent deposit and over 1.6million cans have been handed in.

“When the Environment Ministers meet in Perth on Thursday they should take the next key step to consult the community by releasing a regulatory impact statement,” Mr Angel said.