RRC welcomes introduction of Container Deposit Scheme
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Resource Recovery Centre has welcomed the introduction of the NSW State Government’s Container Deposit Scheme.
Launched at the beginning of December, the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) will ultimately see more than 500 collection points, including 800 reverse vending machines, introduced across the State.
Key features of the scheme – also known as Return and Earn – will see residents receive a 10-cent refund per eligible drink container.
Containers that may be eligible for a refund include glass, aluminum, plastic (PET), steel, HDPE and liquid paperboard containers.
Council’s Manager of Business Services, Neil Townsend spoke of the implications the scheme may have on future waste levies and recycling programs.
“In conjunction with neighbouring Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly Councils, we currently have a long-term agreement in place with our existing waste and recycling contractor,” he said.
“This agreement includes our recycling contract rates which are set until 2024.
“This agreement is based on pre-existing recycling volumes,” Mr Townsend said. “However with the introduction of the CDS we expect these volumes to fall.”
“Should this occur there may be a case to negotiate future recycling rates more favourable to Council.”
“The next step is to undertake an audit in six months and compare these future results to pre-existing figures,” Mr Townsend added. “Armed with this information we can then sit down with our contract provider and Council partners to negotiate a new rate.”
Mr Townsend added that the introduction of the CDS scheme would not affect existing Council recycling facilities.
“Council will continue to operate our yellow-lidded domestic recycling service,” he said. “Residents can also take advantage of free recycling offered at our Community Recycling Centre located within the grounds of the Resource Recovery Centre,” he said.
To view the full list of recyclable items accepted for free at the Community Recycling Centre visit www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/community-recycling-centre.
“We remind our residents that our Resource Recovery Centre, Community Recycling Centre or Reviva facility are not registered CDS collection points,” Mr Townsend added.
“At the end of the day customers are free to decide whether they take up the Return and Earn offer or use another service,” Mr Townsend added.
“Either way our end goal is to see an increase in waste that is beneficially recycled and a decrease in the volume that is generated and sent to landfill.
“We believe that any scheme that helps to reduce litter should be supported.”
Council’s Resource Recovery Centre is located at 177 Berrima Road, Moss Vale.
To learn more about the Return and Earn scheme including local collection points, visit www.returnandearn.org.au.