Why target beverage containers – which are only part of the packaging problem?

• They are durable, readily identifiable and can be easily recycled

• They are often consumed away from home – which means they are put in public litter bins rather than in kerbside collections, or end up as litter on the streets

• Volumes are rapidly increasing as beverage consumption increases due to the introduction of new products (such as bottled water), heavy marketing and increasing numbers of people consuming away from home.

Does CDL jeopardise the viability of kerbside collections?
No, in fact CDL improves the viability of kerbside collections which are currently 100% subsidised by councils and ratepayers. Councils and/or recycling contractors can redeem the deposits on beverage containers put out in the weekly collections. Councils in South Australia where CDL has existed alongside kerbside collections for years have reported income of up to $90,000 per annum from unredeemed deposits.

Is CDL only suitable for refillable containers?
No, CDL is as effective at recovering and recycling single-use containers as it is with refillable containers. In fact it is mostly used to recover and recycle single-use containers.

Does CDL mean containers have to go back to where they were made?
No, CDL simply helps make it financially viable to collect and recycle containers. There is no requirement for them to go back to the manufacturer.

Isn’t CDL just another tax?
No, because consumers can redeem their deposit.  If they don’t choose to, someone else benefits.

Does CDL increase the cost of beverages to consumers?
Not in South Australia. Surveys there have shown that beverage prices, net of deposit, are comparable to those elsewhere in Australia.

Can the cost benefits of CDL be quantified?
CDL offsets the costs of litter collection, injuries from glass litter and the extra energy required and waste produced by using virgin rather than recycled materials. An independent report produced for the NSW government estimates that CDL could save NSW between $70 and $100 million in environmental costs.

What is public opinion on CDL?
The public are overwhelmingly in favour of CDL. In South Australia, surveys show 95% of respondents support the system and close to 80% not only support it but want to see it extended to include all beverage containers and other products as well. Although no formal surveys have been undertaken in New Zealand many local authorities are calling for the introduction of CDL in response to public demand.