Can recycling ‘will come at a cost’, says Coca-Cola Amatil

Coca-Cola Amatil has warned a can and bottle recycling scheme to begin in NSW will cost consumers and industry.

Mike Baird’s proposal gives a 10c refund to consumers who return an eligible drink bottle or container to centres.

Beverage giant Coca-Cola Amatil has warned that a can and bottle recycling scheme to begin in NSW next year will cost consumers and industry, but conceded “we just need to move on” after a campaign against it failed.

Yesterday, Premier Mike Baird unveiled the scheme, which gives a 10c refund to consumers who return an eligible drink bottle or container to centres.

Cheered by environmental groups and the NSW Greens, he labelled the scheme an “attack on litter” that would “transform NSW”. The scheme, applying to most drink containers between 150ml and 3 litres, would help hit NSW’s target to reduce litter by 40 per cent by 2020, he said.

He admitted some beverages would cost at least 10c more.

Coca-Cola executive Jeff Maguire said the scheme was a cost to the system, and the more successful it was with consumers, “the more expensive it becomes”, but he said the industry was ready to work with the minister and the Environment Protection Authority to create a low-cost system.

However, there are doubts whether Sydney’s 260,000 unit dwellers will be motivated to take part if it means storing cans and containers inside, since consumers cannot crush containers as bar codes must be kept intact

The Australian Food and Grocery Council said the industry was disappointed the government had adopted the scheme, pointing to duplication of waste and disposal infrastructure.

Total Environmental Centre’s Jeff Angel said: “We look forward to entire coverage of Australia with container deposit schemes.”