Exclusive: AFL intervenes in container recycling scheme

Footy clubs are keen to cash in on Victoria’s container recycling scheme, with the AFL urging the government to change its proposed plan.

The AFL has urged the Victorian government to redesign its proposed container deposit scheme. Picture: Brendan Radke

The AFL is making a rare political intervention to urge the state government to redesign its proposed container deposit scheme so its clubs can cash in and help their communities.

Victoria will be the last state to roll out a container deposit program in 2023 to ensure that hundreds of millions of bottles and cans are recycled instead of ending up in landfill.

The government is planning to hand control of it to private waste companies that will operate container drop-off sites for a profit.

But community groups including Scouts Victoria and the Good Friday Appeal are urging Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to implement the successful Queensland and Western Australia model to allow them to run refund points and raise money for their organisations.

The Herald Sun can reveal the AFL has now also weighed in so that its clubs can extract the maximum benefit from the scheme, instead of having to subcontract to waste companies.

“The container deposit scheme is a great initiative and the AFL would like the opportunity for our clubs across the community to participate directly,” AFL game development general manager Sam Graham said.

“We’re talking to clubs about whether they might like to take part as refund point operators, as occurs in some other states. The footprints for many of our clubs are quite large and they are closely linked in with local communities.”

“This could be a win for recycling, a win for fans and a win for clubs, particularly local clubs who are the centre of many local communities.”

According to VicRecycle, established by beverage giants Coca-Cola Amatil and Lion, the model in place in Queensland and Western Australia allows refund point operators to receive the full 6.5c handling fee per container, compared to 3.5-4.5c per container under the New South Wales model which the Victorian government is looking to follow.

“The difference for the Victorian community is huge,” VicRecycle chair Paul Klymenko said.

“If the Victorian government goes down the path of the NSW monopoly model, Victorian footy clubs, community organisations and charities will be over $50m a year worse off.”

“What we need in Victoria is a scheme where there is no monopoly, multiple operators are allowed to take part, and they take part directly. That will allow AFL clubs to fully benefit, rather than being forced to subcontract to a waste company that holds a statewide monopoly.”

Ms D’Ambrosio has argued that community benefits are at the heart of her proposed scheme, and that the alternative model would give too much control to the beverage industry.