Container Deposit Systems

Packaging Impacts Consultation Regulation Impact Statement - Local Government Submission March 2012

The COAG Standing Council on Environment and Water recently released the Packaging Impacts Consultation Regulation Impact Statement to develop a national response to packaging waste. A CDS was one proposed option to address packaging waste impacts.

The WALGA Submission is available here.

The key recommendation in the WALGA Submission is that the COAG Standing Council endorse a CDS as the preferred option for addressing packaging waste across Australia.

Please contact Waste Policy Coordinator, Erin Fuery, on 9213 2086 or efuery@walga.asn.au for further details.

Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2011

On Wednesday 19 October 2011, Labor introduced the Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme Bill 2011.  The Bill and Second Reading Speech is available from Parliaments website. 

MWAC recently made a Submission on a Petition on CDS, available here.

What is CDS ?

Container Deposit Systems (CDS) or Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) is one example of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) used as a mechanism for managing the impact of packaging materials.  CDS may be structured in many different ways but essentially relies on a recoverable deposit on beverage containers encouraging consumers to return the containers to a retailer or collection centre for recycling.  By providing a financial incentive for proper disposal it has the ability to impact on beverage littering.

CDS is currently in operation, in one form or another, in some European countries, 11 US States, all 10 Canadian provinces and 2 Australian States/Territories (South Australia and Northern Territory).

WARR Act

The Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Act 2007, includes powers to enact Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Schemes, such as CDS.

MWAC Position on CDS

The Municipal Waste Advisory Council Policy Statement on CDS is available here.