Friday 16 April 2021
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement of a container deposit scheme (CDS) which is set to commence in 2023.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said the announcement would add significant momentum to sustainability issues in Victoria, such as waste reduction and on-shore recycling capability, which have grown increasingly important for many of Australia’s retailers.
“We congratulate the Victorian Government on the announcement of the CDS and look forward to working with government to ensure the scheme is implemented in a practical and efficient way,” Mr Zahra said.
“We also congratulate the government on design of the scheme. Some ARA members are taking a leadership position on sustainability issues, actively supporting a range of measures to deliver positive outcomes for the community and environment.
“We welcome that the scheme will provide a new source of revenue for community organisations, charities and sporting clubs, while creating new jobs and local processing capacity in the emerging circular economy.
“The ARA is also pleased to see yesterday’s National Environment Ministers meeting prioritise harmonisation of container deposit schemes across state borders, which is important to ensure their successful implementation.
“As the intermediary between suppliers and customers, retailers have a significant role to play in ensuring successful implementation of the scheme. We look forward to collaborating with the government to promote the scheme with our members and their customers.”
