Container Deposit Scheme 11th April Deadline

The State Environment Ministers are meeting in Canberra on April 11th to discuss the beverage container issue. We support a Container Deposit Scheme where you receive a 10c refund when you return your plastic and glass bottles and aluminium cans.

Over 80% of Australians also support this initiative which will reduce the amount of litter in our marine and coastal environments.

We encourage you to write to your State Environment Minister to show your support for the Container Deposit Scheme.

South Australia have been doing this successfully for over 30 years - let's get the rest of Australia on the same page!

For more information visit www.boomerangalliance.org.au

It's Time to Act!

Coke & its allies have stooped to a new low in fighting the Cash for Containers Refund Scheme on 19 February Coca-Cola, Schweppes and Lion are taking legal action against the NT government - challenging the right of NT to implement a deposit refund policy that has already made significant improvements in NT's environment, reducing litter,increasing recycling and giving a new source of income for community groups.

If Coca-Cola wants to live up to its green image they need to stop being obstructive. Every time governments have gotten close to a decision the beverage companies have pressured them not to act. Enough is enough, it is time to ACT!

Join us at our Do The Right Thing Action adjacent to the Federal Court, Sydney.

What: Do The Right Thing Action
When: Tuesday 19 February 2013
Where: Queen's Square, Corner of Phillip & Kings Street Sydney - adjacent to the Federal Court, the Northern end of Hyde Park St James Station is right at Queen's Square
Time: 10am - 4pm, if you can't come the whole day, come for 1 or 2 hours or during your lunch break if you're in the city
Media: 11am media event with Ian Kiernan & Jeff Angel
Bring: If you have an iPad or Laptop with wifi/internet please bring it along so we can have the public send an online letter directly to ministers
Phone: Lisa 0407 074 719
Facebook: LIKE us on Facebook at Cash For Containers
www.boomerangalliance.org.au

Boomerang Proposal!

To check out the alternative proposal to both the SA and NT Container Deposit Schemes, visit the Boomerang Proposal - with more than 80% of Australians wanting a Container Deposit Scheme - now is the time to write to your state environment minister and local members and tell them to get onboard. If litter has a value - it doesn't become litter!

Beverage Prices Down Under Container Deposits!

Contrary to the impression of big price rises from container deposits that the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) gave you – they were never as high as claimed in the Northern Territory and certainly won't be under a national container deposit system (CDS).

The AFGC commissioned research showing that households would be hit by a $300 pa impost if CDS was introduced; and 1,700 jobs would be lost. This was based on the assumption that all beverage prices would rise by 20-26cents – the 10cent deposit and a 10-16cent handling fee. They pointed to the Northern Territory Cash for Containers program as proof.

But as revealed in a recent Federal Senate inquiry into pricing under the SA and NT, these assertions were wrong and misleading:

• The AFGC's claims of price rises appear to be based on 'weak methodology and poor data.' (p20)
• Industry submissions to the Inquiry provided extensive evidence that there is frequent discounting by retailers. Thus consumers did not face a comprehensive rise of 20 cents for all products; and the price of even one product such as a soft drink varies widely.
• The alleged price rise includes the 10 cent deposit – which most people redeem.
• And recyclers of SA stated the net cost of recycling under the SA CD scheme (which is old and inefficient) is only 1cent per container.

The other erroneous assumption the AFGC made was that the NT CDS would be applied nationally. The NT and SA systems are old style and do not adopt the efficiencies in modern CDS. The Boomerang model which is now being assessed by environment ministers is efficient and low cost. There will be no additional cost to the consumer (beyond the temporary impact of a redeemable deposit).

Overleaf you will find a comparison between our proposal, based on existing modern systems - and the SA/NT CDS. If you would like further information about this scheme and the multiple benefits arising from it (80%+ recycling; 'elimination' of container litter and marine pollution; and new recycling drop off centres for additional problem wastes) - please contact us.

Yours sincerely,
Jeff Angel, National Convenor Boomerang Alliance