Robert Kelman

CDS Refund
 Container Deposit Schemes, Opinion, Product Stewardship, Refunds

The case for increasing CDS refund amount

Australia faces a mounting waste crisis. According to the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), Australia uses nearly 7 million tonnes of packaging every year, with almost half (44 per cent) ending up in landfill. Of the post-consumer packaging that ended up in landfills in 2021-22, 33 per cent was plastic packaging, 14 per cent was glass packaging, and 5 per cent was metal-based packaging. This is why the CDS refund needs to change. Read More
Features

Europe/New Zealand leading the way in CDS refund

The latest European state to announce adoption of a container deposit/refund scheme is Austria. Commencing in 2024, Austria will launch its scheme with a €0.25 Euro deposit value, equivalent of around A$0.40cents. That’s four times higher than Australia’s current value. New Zealand is also investigating looking at a CDS. Read More
Features, Opinion

South Australia’s CDS reform needs direction

At 77 per cent recycling, South Australia’s container deposit scheme (CDS) is in the bottom third in terms of global performance. Most European (and a couple of US) schemes recover well over 90 per cent and Germany sits at 98 per cent. Assuming return rates are the arbiter of a scheme’s success, the recent SA draft CDS reform paper is welcome, providing a comprehensive assessment of the state’s CDS.

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