28 NOVEMBER 2013www.theherald.com.au
Canned beverage companies lobbying state MPs of NSW and Victoria against a cash-for-cans scheme
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
ALCOHOL and soft-drink companies have been aggressively lobbying state MPs against a cash-for-cans scheme as NSW and Victoria consider joining forces to introduce their own joint recycling project.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and other MPs confirmed the beverage industry – including Lion, Carlton & United Breweries and Coca-Cola Amatil – had ‘‘ramped up’’ their lobbying in recent months.
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Carlton & United Breweries said it had been rattled by rumours NSW and Victoria would start a cash-for-cans recycling scheme.
‘‘There is a legitimate concern by all the supply side on a stand-alone NSW and Victorian deposit scheme,’’ CUB’s Jeremy Griffith said.
‘‘You’re going to fundamentally disrupt the market.’’
If such a scheme is implemented, consumers will be refunded 10¢ when they return a bottle or can to a depot.
Breweries estimate this will increase the price of a case of beer by $3, although environment groups contest this figure.
Lake Macquarie City Council is the latest group to add its call for some form of container deposit scheme.
At its meeting on Monday night, the council was unanimous in its support and resolved to write to the federal and state environment ministers and Premier O’Farrell.
In her mayoral minute, Jodie Harrison pointed to the success of the deposit scheme in South Australia.
The Australian Food and Grocery Council, with board members including representatives of several drink companies, has run advertisements in the past two months criticising what it calls a ‘‘container tax’’.
But Total Environment Centre executive director Jeff Angel said the beverage industry was engaging in ‘‘pure unconvincing spin’’.
People knew that a deposit was refundable ‘‘and you can’t call a deposit a tax’’, he said.
Environment group Keep Australia Beautiful has also been actively lobbying against the scheme in partnership with its major donor, Coca-Cola.
See your ad here Fairfax Media understands the industry has also ‘‘ramped up’’ its lobbying of Environment Minister Robyn Parker.
Ms Parker said she had not ruled out the option of NSW and Victoria creating their own legislation.
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and other MPs confirmed the beverage industry – including Lion, Carlton & United Breweries and Coca-Cola Amatil – had ‘‘ramped up’’ their lobbying in recent months.
See your ad here
Carlton & United Breweries said it had been rattled by rumours NSW and Victoria would start a cash-for-cans recycling scheme.
‘‘There is a legitimate concern by all the supply side on a stand-alone NSW and Victorian deposit scheme,’’ CUB’s Jeremy Griffith said.
‘‘You’re going to fundamentally disrupt the market.’’
If such a scheme is implemented, consumers will be refunded 10¢ when they return a bottle or can to a depot.
Breweries estimate this will increase the price of a case of beer by $3, although environment groups contest this figure.
Lake Macquarie City Council is the latest group to add its call for some form of container deposit scheme.
At its meeting on Monday night, the council was unanimous in its support and resolved to write to the federal and state environment ministers and Premier O’Farrell.
In her mayoral minute, Jodie Harrison pointed to the success of the deposit scheme in South Australia.
The Australian Food and Grocery Council, with board members including representatives of several drink companies, has run advertisements in the past two months criticising what it calls a ‘‘container tax’’.
But Total Environment Centre executive director Jeff Angel said the beverage industry was engaging in ‘‘pure unconvincing spin’’.
People knew that a deposit was refundable ‘‘and you can’t call a deposit a tax’’, he said.
Environment group Keep Australia Beautiful has also been actively lobbying against the scheme in partnership with its major donor, Coca-Cola.
See your ad here Fairfax Media understands the industry has also ‘‘ramped up’’ its lobbying of Environment Minister Robyn Parker.
Ms Parker said she had not ruled out the option of NSW and Victoria creating their own legislation.
Tagged with:Aluminium cans
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