How Victoria’s new cash-for-cans scheme will work, expert claims won’t deliver the most jobs
Victoria’s container deposit scheme has been labelled too close to the NSW model, limiting job creation.
Victoria
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The state government’s preferred cash-for-cans model will create 775 fewer jobs than alternative models, it has been claimed.
VicRecycle, established by Coca-Cola Amatil and Lion, said on Monday community groups would also be forced to pay participation fees to the waste industry to take part in the scheme.
It comes after the Herald Sun revealed the government had finally settled on a model for its long-awaited scheme.
Under the proposal Victorians would recoup 10 cents for every can, bottle or carton swapped at vending machines, drive through depots, in shops and at pop up collection points.
And responsibility for the operation and governance of the Container Deposit Scheme would be split, in a move the government said would increase transparency.
But VicRecycle director Jeff Maguire said the model was too similar to that adopted by New South Wales and would limit the creation of Victorian jobs.
He has called on the government to consider adopting a scheme similar to ones operating in Queensland and Western Australia.
“The Community (Producer Responsibility) Schemes in Queensland and Western Australia are the most transparent, the most cost-efficient, deliver the most jobs and have the greatest benefit for community organisations,” Mr Maguire said.
“That’s why its been adopted by the two most recent state governments to roll-out a CDS – Queensland and Western Australia.
“The NSW scheme prioritises profits for one or a small number of large multinational waste companies, forcing charities to pay part of their handling fee to the waste operator to take part.”
Mr Maguire said independent modelling showed under a model similar to Queensland’s 1220 jobs could be created across the state, compared with approximately 445 udner the proposed model.
Victorian community organisations also stood to from $64m per year in new revenue once the scheme was fully operational.
Under the plan the price of drinks would almost certainly increase.
In the first 12 months of operation drink prices increased by 7.7 cents in New South Wales and 9.45 cents in Queensland.
Victoria is tipped to be the last state or territory to introduce a container deposit scheme when it is rolled out in 2023.
For more information and to have your say about the cash-for-cans scheme go to engage.vic.gov.au/container-deposit-scheme.
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